Combustion Values: Identifying Species with 0 Enthalpy/Entropy/Gibbs

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In summary, to determine if a species will react with O2 gas regardless of the conditions, you can refer to the NASA polynomial table maintained by Professor Burcat. However, this information will not tell you if a reaction will occur. Instead, it is more useful to look at the activation energy, which can indicate the amount of energy needed to initiate a reaction.
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How do I tell if a certain species will not react or combust with O2 gas regardless of the conditions? I am trying to deduce which species will have standard enthalpy (or entropy or Gibbs' free energy) of combustion of 0, besides obviously O2 itself. e.g. CO2, H2O, perhaps ...?
 
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You can look up the measured and calculated values in the NASA polynomial table (either the formation or standard enthalpy).
The tables are maintained by Professor Burcat:
http://garfield.chem.elte.hu/Burcat/burcat.html

But this information will not tell you if a species will react or not. N2 has standard enthalpy of combustion 0, but it will still react with combustion products to form NO and NO2 at high temperatures. The reaction will just not have used or released any net energy.
It's more insightful to look at the activation energy of a certain reaction. This will tell you how much energy (usually by heating) you initially have to give to your mixture to start the reaction A->B The reaction can also occur in the other direction: B->A. The difference in activation energies between these two give you ΔH.
 

1. What is combustion and why is it important?

Combustion is a type of chemical reaction in which a fuel combines with oxygen to produce heat and light energy. It is important because it is the primary process by which we generate energy for everyday activities, such as cooking, transportation, and electricity production.

2. What are enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy in relation to combustion values?

Enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy are thermodynamic properties that can be used to measure the efficiency and spontaneity of a chemical reaction, such as combustion. Enthalpy is the amount of heat energy released or absorbed during a reaction, entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system, and Gibbs free energy is the amount of energy available to do work. In the context of combustion values, these properties can help identify the species involved in a reaction and their relative stability.

3. How do scientists use combustion values to identify species?

Scientists use thermodynamic calculations based on enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy values to determine the products of a combustion reaction. By comparing these values for different species, they can determine which species are most likely to form in a given reaction and in what proportions. This information can then be used to identify the species involved in the reaction.

4. Can combustion values be used to predict the environmental impact of a chemical reaction?

Yes, combustion values can be used to predict the environmental impact of a chemical reaction. By looking at the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy values, scientists can determine how much energy is released or absorbed during a reaction and how much disorder is created. This information can help predict the potential for pollutants or greenhouse gases to be produced during combustion.

5. How do combustion values differ for different types of fuels?

The combustion values for different types of fuels can vary significantly depending on their molecular structure and composition. For example, a hydrocarbon fuel such as methane will have different enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy values compared to a carbohydrate fuel like glucose. This is because the chemical bonds in each fuel molecule have different strengths and require different amounts of energy to break during combustion.

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