Chemical Engineering Department

School Year 2019 - 2020

RATE OF COMBUSTION OF

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

Chemical Reaction Engineering

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM MWF / ST202 & CHELAB

Name Student Number Signature

1. Areola, Therese Isabelle B. 201511110

2. Fetalvero, Mico S. 201512711
3. Hatud, Jewls M. 201510095
4. Ignacio, Jasmine A. 201510058
5. Sy, Stephannie L. 201510045

Engr. Robert E. Delfin

Instructor
I. Abstract

In this experiment, the rate of combustion of isopropyl alcohol was determined and the order of

the reaction was identified. The chemicals and materials used were 70% isopropyl alcohol, a 100-

ml beaker, and a lighter. The initial volume of fifty milliliters (50mL) of alcohol was poured into

the beaker and was then lit up using a lighter. The isopropyl alcohol was allowed to combust until

it reached 40mL, 30mL, and 20mL and the time was recorded. The time it took for the alcohol to

reach 40mL was 8 minutes and 32 seconds, 22 minutes and 45 minutes for 30mL and 50 minutes

and 32 seconds for 20mL. Having an initial volume of 50mL with 70% alcohol, the rate was then

determined to be 0.009/min. The order of reaction was known using trial and error. For zeroth law,

using the formula Ca-Cao=-kt, the k values using the initial concentration of 0.7 and concentration-

-time values of 0.625--8.53 min, 0.5--22.75 min, and 0.25--50.53 min was 8.79x10^-3/second,

8.79x10^-3/second, and 8.9x10^-3/second, respectively. The order was then concluded to be

zeroth order. A more rapid combustion and a bigger flame was also observed to occur at higher

concentration of isopropyl alcohol in the solution and becomes slower as the concentration

decreases.

II. Theoretical Background

Reaction rate is the measure of the concentration change of reactants or products per unit time.

Reaction rate is defined as:

Lower rate of reaction signifies that molecules combine at a slower speed than a reaction with a

higher rate of reaction.

The rate of reaction is affected by three factors: temperature, concentration, and pressure.

Increases
1. Temperature
2. Pressure
3. Concentration

Faster

Rate of Reaction

You can notice that as you increase temoerature, the kinetic energy of the reactants increase.

This allows more collision between molecules which results to higher rate of reaction. As for the

concentration, if there are more substance in a system, there is a greater chance that molecules

will collide and speeds up the rate of reaction. And for the pressure, as you increase the pressure

in a system, molecules have less space which results to collision and higher rate of reaction.

Reaction rate is also given in different order. The order of reaction enables us to classify specific

chemical reactions easily. This allows us to understand numerous factors within the reaction

including the rate law, units of the rate constant, half-life, etc. The order of reaction can be

calculated by adding the exponential values of the reactants in the rate law.
III. Introduction

Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, was used primarily in the production of acetone, by

dehydrogenating catalytically to give acetone and hydrogen or oxidizing at high pressure to give

acetone and hydrogen peroxide. However, the use of isopropyl alcohol in acetone manufacture has

been decreasing in recent years. Its second main use is as a solvent to extract natural products such

as gums, shellacs, oils, and waxes, and can be also used in cosmetics industry. The third principal

use is in the manufacture of other chemicals, such as isopropylamine, isopropyl acetate, isopropyl

xanthate, and many more. Now, isopropanol can also be used as fuel.

Isopropyl alcohol is a colorless, highly flammable chemical that is cheap, widely available, has

high heat content, and can easily ignite.

IV. Experimental Procedure

First, prepare the materials needed for the experiment – a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, 100-ml

beaker, and a lighter. The isopropyl alcohol, measuring 50mL, was then poured into the beaker.

The lighter was placed over the mouth of the beaker and the alcohol was allowed to combust. The

time was recorded in every 10ml of isopropyl alcohol combusted until it reach 20mL.

V. Results

Volume (mL) Time (minutes)

40 8.53

30 22.75

20 50.53
Computation for the order:

Cao = 0.7

Initial amnt of alcohol = 35mL

> 35mL-10mL = 25mL

1st Ca = 25/40 = 0.625

> 25mL-10mL= 15mL

2nd Ca = 15/30 = 0.5

> 15mL-10mL = 5mL

3rd Ca = 5/20 = 0.25

Trial 1: zeroth order

Ca-Cao=-kt

Cao=0.7

● For Ca=0.625, t=8min 32s (8.53min)

0.625-0.7=k(8.53) ; k=0.009

● For Ca=0.5, t= 22min 45s (22.75min)

0.5-0.7=k(22.75) ; k=0.009

● For Ca=0.25, t=50min 32s (50.53min)

0.25-0.7=k(50.53) ; k=0.009

The order is zeroth order

For zeroth order, the rate is equal to k therefore, rate = 0.009.

To check if true:

Rate = concentration/time
 (0.7-0.45)/50.53min

Rate = 0.009

VI. Results Discussion

As seen from the data above, it is observed that a lower concentration of alcohol took more time

to combust. 50 mL volume was used as starting point of the experiment after 8.53 minutes the

volume decreased to 40 mL then after 22.75 minutes the volume was reduced to 30mL and after

50.53 minutes, the volume was then reduced to 20mL.

VII. Conclusion

Based on the gathered data and information, it can be concluded that the higher the percentage or

concentration of alcohol there is in the solution, the faster time it will take for the volume to be

reduced. More alcohol means more combustion.

The rate was then determined as 0.009 per second and the order of reaction as a zeroth order.

VIII. Appendices
IX. References

https://www.nap.edu/read/690/chapter/12
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/

Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Kinetics/Reaction_Rates/Reacti

on_Rate

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_rates.html