Answer :
Final answer:
Using Hess's law and the given reactions, we manipulate and add them to get the target reaction's Gibbs free energy change, leading to a result of -31.4 kJ.
Explanation:
To determine the standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°rxn) for the reaction 2 N2O(g) + 3 O2(g) → 4 NO2(g) using Hess's law, we must manipulate and combine the given reactions to match the target equation:
- N2(g) + 2 O2(g) → 2 NO2(g) ΔG°rxn = 66.4 kJ
- 2 N2O(g) → 2 N2(g) + O2(g) ΔG°rxn = -164.2 kJ
We'll use these two reactions to find the Gibbs free energy change for the target reaction by adding them in such a way that extra substances cancel out:
First reaction times 2:
2 [N2(g) + 2 O2(g) → 2 NO2(g)]
→ 2 N2(g) + 4 O2(g) → 4 NO2(g) ΔG°rxn = 2 * 66.4 kJ = 132.8 kJ
Second reaction as it is:
2 N2O(g) → 2 N2(g) + O2(g) ΔG°rxn = -164.2 kJ
Now add the two equations:
[2 N2(g) + 4 O2(g) → 4 NO2(g)] + [2 N2O(g) → 2 N2(g) + O2(g)]
→ 2 N2O(g) + 3 O2(g) → 4 NO2(g) ΔG°rxn = 132.8 kJ - 164.2 kJ
The final ΔG°rxn for our target reaction is:
ΔG°rxn = 132.8 kJ - 164.2 kJ = -31.4 kJ
The correct answer is (b) -31.4 kJ.