In my most recent lab, we were making biofuels using oil. My group chose peanut oil. We were given the percentages of different methyl esters that are in peanut oil. I.E. 12% methyl palmitate, 2% methyl stearate, 52% methyl oleate, etc...we were asked to find the "molecular mass in the methyl ester in oil based on its percent composition", so for methyl palmitate, .12*270=32.4 g/mol.

Now, on the next page, we are asked to find the "energy (kJ/mol) based on the % methyl ester in oil"...so does that mean we find the kJ/mol of each ester and multiply them by their respective percentages?

Question

In my most recent lab, we were making biofuels using oil. My group chose peanut oil. We were given the percentages of different methyl esters that are in peanut oil. I.E. 12% methyl palmitate, 2% methyl stearate, 52% methyl oleate, etc...we were asked to find the "molecular mass in the methyl ester in oil based on its percent composition", so for methyl palmitate, .12*270=32.4 g/mol.

Now, on the next page, we are asked to find the "energy (kJ/mol) based on the % methyl ester in oil"...so does that mean we find the kJ/mol of each ester and multiply them by their respective percentages?

anonymous · Answer

I.E. methyl palmitate= 20737 kJ/mol. Would we do this- 20737*.12=?

Or no?

aaronq · Answer

are these percentages by mass or by volume?