In the spring of 1996 five tank cars containing propane (molar mass = 44.09 g/mol) derailed in Weyauwega, WI forcing evacuation of the town for over a week. Residents within a square mile of the accident site were unable to return to their homes for over two weeks.
(A) Assuming that each tank car had a capacity of 33,500 gal, knowing that the density of liquid propane at its boiling point (-44.5°C) is 0.5853 g/cm3, and assuming that the propane vaporized and warmed to 25°C, how many kJ of heat would be evolved if all the propane reacted explosively with oxygen in the air?
Substance Hof
C3 H8(g) -103.8
CO2(g) -393.5
H2O (l) -285.8
(B) H for the explosive decomposition of TNT (C7H5N3O6) to water, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon is -1066.1 kJ/mol. How many kilotons (1 Ton=103 kg) of TNT would provide the amount of energy equivalent to that produced by the combustion of five tank cars of propane?