Sodium acetate is produced by the reaction of baking soda and vinegar. The resultant solution is then heated until it becomes saturated and allowed to cool. As a result, the solution has become supercooled. Upon addition of a small seed crystal, the solution temperature increases as sodium acetate trihydrate crystallizes. Its molar enthalpy of fusion is 35.9 kJ/mol. How much thermal energy would be released by 276.0 g of sodium acetate trihydrate (molar mass

The thermal energy that would be released by 276.0g of sodium acetate trihydrate is 71.8kJ.

Explanation:

Supercooling is the process of lowering the temperature a liquid below its freezing point, without it becoming solid. A liquid below its freezing point will crystallize in the presence of a seed crystal because it serves as a structure for formation of crystals. From the question,

The given mass of sodium acetate trihydrate

(CH3COONa.3H2O)= 276.0g

Molar mass of sodium acetate

trihydrate= 136.08g/mol

Thermal heat of fusion of sodium acetate

trihydrate = 35.9 kJ/mol

From the given mass the number of moles present= 276.0/ 136.08

= 2.0moles

Therefore the heat (thermal) energy of the given mass of sodium acetate

trihydrate = 2.0 × 35.9

= 71.8kJ

Therefore, upon addition of a small seed crystal, the solution temperature increases as sodium acetate trihydrate crystallizes.

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