Acetylene gas (C2H2) burns with oxygen in an oxyacetylene torch to produce carbon dioxide, water vapor, and the great heat needed for welding metals. The heat of combustion of acetylene is 1259 kJ/mol. Estimate the bond energy of the carbon-carbon triple bond in acetylene.
a. 1271 kJ/mol
b. -1271 kJ/mol
c. -800 kJ/mol
d. 800 kJ/mol
e. none of these is within 5% of the correct answer