When organic matter decomposes under oxygen-free (anaerobic) conditions, methane is one of the products. Thus, enormous deposits of natural gas, which is almost entirely methane, serve as a major source of fuel for home and industry.
(a) Known deposits of natural gas can produce 5,500 EJ of energy (1 EJ = 1018 J). Current total global energy usage is 3.9 × 102 EJ per year. Find the mass (in kg) of known deposits of natural gas (ΔH
o
rxn
for the combustion of CH4 = −802 kJ/mol).
× 10
kg CH4
(b) At current rates of usage, for how many years could these deposits supply the world's total energy needs?
yr
(c) What volume (in ft3) of natural gas, measured at STP, is required to heat 1.00 qt of water from 25.0°C to 98.1°C (d of H2O = 1.00 g/mL; d of CH4 at STP = 0.72 g/L)?
ft3
(d) The fission of 1 mol of uranium (about 4 × 10−4 ft3) in a nuclear reactor produces 2 × 1013 J. What volume (in ft3) of natural gas would produce the same amount of energy?
× 10
ft3
