Grams and heat... How to calculate?

Question

How do you calculate the grams of a compound that would be required to produce a specific amount of heat?

Answer 1

I think your question probably refers to determining heat of reaction as when you burn a certain hydrocarbon. In that case, you would need to know or calculate the ∆H of reaction, and from that, you could determine the mass of a compound needed to generate a certain value of heat. The ∆H of reaction could be given, or calculated from ∆H of formation values for the products and the reactants.

Answer 2

Q= mc∆T

where m is the mass of substance, c is specific heat in J/g- ^oC and ∆T is temperature difference and Q is the amount of heat required.

To find mass m = Q/( c∆T)