Superoxide salts are used to generate oxygen gas on space flights and submarines...
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Superoxide salts are used to generate oxygen gas on space flights and submarines. Superoxides undergo hydrolysis (a reaction with water) to generate oxygen gas, hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide:
2KO2(s) + 2H2O(g) → 2KOH(s) + H2O2(g) + O2(g) ΔrxnH° = +64.95 kJ mol–1 reaction 1
The peroxide produced then decomposes to produce water and oxygen:
H2O2(g) → H2O(g) + ½O2(g) ΔrxnH° = –146.9 kJ mol–1 reaction 2
Potassium hydroxide (KOH) reacts with carbon dioxide in the air potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate:
2KOH(s) + CO2(s) → K2CO3(s) + H2O(g) ΔrxnH° = –146.9 kJ mol–1 reaction 3
KOH(s) + CO2(s) → KHCO3(s) ΔrxnH° = –145.0 kJ mol–1 reaction 4
Using the information given above, calculate the reaction enthalpy for the process below:
4KO2(s) + 4CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) → 4KHCO3(s) + 3O2(g) ΔrxnH° = ? reaction 5