5.3 Exercise 43

Among the substances that react with oxygen and that have been considered as potential rocket fuels are diborane [B₂H₆, produces B₂O₃(s) and H₂O(g)], methane [CH₄, produces CO₂(g) and H₂O(g)], and hydrazine [N₂H₄, produces N₂(g) and H₂O(g)]. On the basis of the heat released by 1.00 g of each substance in its reaction with oxygen, which of these compounds offers the best possibility as a rocket fuel? The $\Delta H_{\text{f}}^{\circ}$ of B₂H₆(g), CH₄(g), and N₂H₄(l) may be found in Appendix G.