Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    hslove142331's Avatar
    hslove142331 Posts: 71, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #1

    Jan 22, 2010, 10:04 PM
    Why isn't the butane boiling inside the lighter at room temperature?
    Butane, C4H10, has a boiling point of -0.5 °C (which is 31 °F). Despite this, liquid butane can be seen sloshing about inside a typical butane lighter, even at room temperature. Why isn't the butane boiling inside the lighter at room temperature? Select all that apply.


    1. Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure.

    2. Vapor pressure increases with increasing of temperature.

    3. Vapor pressure decreases with increasing of temperature.

    4. The pressure inside the lighter is higher than normal atmospheric pressure.

    5. None of these.


    I think 3,4 are correct.
    But, I am not sure about this one.
    What do you think about this problem?

    Thank you
    Unknown008's Avatar
    Unknown008 Posts: 8,076, Reputation: 723
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Jan 22, 2010, 11:40 PM

    The higher the vapour pressure, the more volatile a liquid is.

    Hence, 3 is false.

    My take of this problem would be 2, 1, 4 being in that order.
    1st fact: Vapour pressure increases with increasing of temperature.
    2nd fact: Boiling occurs when the vapour pressure equals the surrounding pressure.

    Hence the pressure inside the lamp must be high, so that the vapour pressure has to increase by a large amount before being able to reach the pressure, therefore 'pushing up' the boiling point.
    Thus, conclusion 4.
    hslove142331's Avatar
    hslove142331 Posts: 71, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #3

    Jan 23, 2010, 01:23 PM
    Oh so, 3 is false and only number 4 is correct right?

    Yeah.. I was confusing on these two answers.

    Thank you , you make me understand
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Why is steam more dangerous than boiling water at same temperature [ 4 Answers ]

Why is steam more dangerous than boiling water at same temperature

Hotpoint Refrigerator inside temperature, what should it be? [ 3 Answers ]

Hi, I just wanted to know what should the inside temperature of a refrigerator be. Not the freezer side. I recently had the defroster units replaced and since then it still doesn't seem like it is cooling properly, the temperature setting is almost max'd out but before the work is was like 7 now...

Room temperature of chemicals [ 2 Answers ]

Q1.What is the room temperature ofchlorine,bromine and iodine? Q2.Which metal's salts give a blue-green flame test and blue precipate with sodium hydrogen? Q3.Hydrogen chloride gas is very soluble in water and denser than air.How should you collect a sample? Q4.Is the mass of a rusty nail higher...

Lowering temperature of car lighter [ 2 Answers ]

I'm trying to put a variable resistor in a car lighter circuit and need to know the specifics, I want to be able to set the lighter to any temperature from naught to red hot. The resistors I tried have either burnt out or stopped the voltage entirely.

Maximum water temperature vs boiling speed [ 6 Answers ]

Maybe this belongs under Chemistry, but if water cannot get hotter than 212 degrees at sea level before boiling, why do some recipes call for faster (rolling?) boils rather than a simmering boil? Sometimes things other than water are heated/boiled, but I believe the same underlying principle...

View more questions Search