Example 5.15b: Using Hess’s Law

Calculate the heat of combustion of 1 mole of ethanol, \(\ce{C2H5OH(l)}\), when \(\ce{H2O(l)}\) and \(\ce{CO2(g)}\) are formed. Use the following enthalpies of formation: \(\ce{C2H5OH(l)}\), -278 kJ/mol; \(\ce{H2O(l)}\), -286 kJ/mol; and \(\ce{CO2(g)}\), -394 kJ/mol.