Which of the following substances, A-D, will release the most energy during combustion in air?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combustion of a substance involves breaking the bonds of the reactants and forming new bonds in the products. The difference in energy between the bonds broken and the bonds formed is the energy released during combustion. The substance with the most energy released will have the weakest bonds in the reactants and the strongest bonds in the products. C₆H₁₄ has more carbon and hydrogen atoms than C₂H₆, so it has more available bonds for combustion. Additionally, it has more sulfur atoms, which contribute to the energy released during combustion. Thus, 1 mol of C₆H₁₄ will release the most energy during combustion in air. 1 g of either substance is not enough information to compare because we need the number of moles to compare the energy released.

Which of the Following Substances, A-D, Will Release the Most