1.4.3
Enthalpy Changes: Standard Conditions
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number1.1.3Mass Spectrometry1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals1.1.5Electron Configuration1.1.6Ionisation Energy1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies1.1.8Trends of Ionisation1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.2.1Relative Masses1.2.2The Mole1.2.3The Ideal Gas Equation1.2.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae1.2.5Balanced Equations1.2.6Percentage Yield1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Percentage Yield1.2.8Atom Economy1.2.9End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance1.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Substances & Yield1.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Moles
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding1.3.3Carbon Structures1.3.4Metallic Bonding1.3.5Physical Properties1.3.6Shapes of Molecules1.3.7Polarity1.3.8Intermolecular Forces1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 21.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding1.3.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ions1.3.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ionic & Covalent1.3.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Phase Change1.3.16Diagnostic Misconceptions - Boiling1.3.17Diagnostic Misconceptions - Polar Bonds
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)2.5.2pH (A2 Only)2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases2.5.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ammonia is an Alkali2.5.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Water's Neutrality2.5.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Concentrate & Strength
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 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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1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number1.1.3Mass Spectrometry1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals1.1.5Electron Configuration1.1.6Ionisation Energy1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies1.1.8Trends of Ionisation1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.2.1Relative Masses1.2.2The Mole1.2.3The Ideal Gas Equation1.2.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae1.2.5Balanced Equations1.2.6Percentage Yield1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Percentage Yield1.2.8Atom Economy1.2.9End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance1.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Substances & Yield1.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Moles
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding1.3.3Carbon Structures1.3.4Metallic Bonding1.3.5Physical Properties1.3.6Shapes of Molecules1.3.7Polarity1.3.8Intermolecular Forces1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 21.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding1.3.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ions1.3.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ionic & Covalent1.3.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Phase Change1.3.16Diagnostic Misconceptions - Boiling1.3.17Diagnostic Misconceptions - Polar Bonds
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)2.5.2pH (A2 Only)2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases2.5.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ammonia is an Alkali2.5.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Water's Neutrality2.5.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Concentrate & Strength
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 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
Practice questions on Enthalpy Changes: Standard Conditions
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Standard conditions:Fill in the list
- 2What phase would water be in under standard conditions?Multiple choice
- 3Which of the following represents enthalpy change?Multiple choice
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