1.4.1

Enthalpy Changes

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Enthalpy Changes

For a given process or reaction, we can measure the enthalpy change.

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Definition of enthalpy change

  • An enthalpy change is a measure of the heat given out or taken in during a process.
  • When objects are heated, they use energy to expand.
  • Enthalpy takes into account the energy used in the expansion.
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Enthalpy vs energy changes

  • We use enthalpy instead of energy because we cannot easily measure energy changes. This is because objects expand when heated.
  • To measure an energy change, we would have to fix the volume of the object.
  • Enthalpy is much easier to use as it allows for expansion.
    • Enthalpy changes are instead measured under constant pressure.
    • The atmosphere is at a constant pressure, so we require no extra equipment.
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Endothermic vs exothermic reactions

  • An exothermic reaction is one which gives out heat energy.
  • An exothermic reaction has a negative enthalpy change.
  • An endothermic reaction is one which takes in heat energy.
  • An endothermic reaction has a positive enthalpy change.
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Combustion is exothermic

  • Combustion is an exothermic process as it gives out heat!
    • E.g. Burning methane:
      • CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
      • ΔH = −882.00kJmol-1
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Thermal decomposition is endothermic

  • Thermal decomposition is an endothermic process.
    • E.g. The thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate:
      • CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
      • ΔH = +178.30kJmol-1

Bond Breaking and Making

The basis of chemical reactions is a series of bond breaking and making.

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Bond enthalpies

  • During a reaction, some chemical bonds must be broken and made.
  • The energy to break or make a bond is known as the bond enthalpy.
    • Energy is needed to break a bond so it is an endothermic process.
    • Energy is given off when a bond is made so it is an exothermic process.
  • The enthalpy change of a reaction is a sum of the individual bond enthalpies being broken and made during the reaction.
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The dominating term

  • During a chemical reaction, we must determine whether the reaction requires more energy to break bonds or to make bonds.
    • This will give an overall reaction enthalpy that is either positive or negative.
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Endothermic vs exothermic

  • Since bond breaking is endothermic and bond making is exothermic:
    • More energy required to break bonds in a reaction will lead to an overall endothermic reaction.
    • More energy released making bonds in a reaction will lead to an overall exothermic reaction.

Standard Conditions

For many measurements, we can record them under standard conditions. This is true for enthalpy changes - we call it the standard enthalpy change.

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Symbols

  • Enthalpy is given the symbol H.
  • Enthalpy changes are given the symbol ΔH.
    • A negative enthalpy change (pictured) is one which gives out heat.
    • A positive enthalpy change is one which takes in heat.
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Standard conditions

  • You'll hear the term 'standard conditions' a lot in chemistry. These conditions refer to:
    • A pressure of 1 bar or 100 kPa.
    • A temperature of 298K.
    • A substance's most stable state at 298K and 1 bar pressure.
      • E.g. For water, it is liquid.
      • E.g. For carbon, it is graphite.
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Standard enthalpy changes

  • A standard enthalpy change is an enthalpy change carried out under standard conditions.
  • There are two you need to know;
    • Standard enthalpy of combustion (ΔcHθ).
    • Standard enthalpy of formation (ΔfHθ).
  • The superscript θ signifies that it is a standard enthalpy change.
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ΔcHθ

  • The standard enthalpy change of combustion is defined as:
    • The enthalpy change when one mole of a substance in its standard state burns completely in oxygen under standard conditions of 298K and 1 bar pressure.
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ΔfHθ

  • The standard enthalpy change of formation is defined as:
    • The enthalpy change when one mole of a substance is formed in its standard state from the pure elements in their standard states under standard conditions of 298K and 1 bar pressure.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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