1.5.4

Hess' Law

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Hess' Law

Hess' Law provides a useful way of calculating enthalpy changes.

Hess' Law

Hess' Law

The enthalpy change of a reaction is independent of the pathway.
- This means that the enthalpy change of the reaction is the same for if the reaction is direct or indirect.

What does this mean?

What does this mean?

Hess' Law is useful for obtaining enthalpy changes that aren't directly observable.
These are often obscure reactions.
With the help of some easy reactions that involve some of these compounds, we can derive the enthalpy changes we're interested in.

The break down

The break down

This means that the following will all have the same enthalpy change:
- A → B → C → D → E
- A → C → E
- A → E
Overall, they all just convert A to E and so the overall enthalpy change will be identical for all of them.

Hess Cycles

We can use Hess' Law to derive Hess Cycles which will help us with calculations. We can create cycles using enthalpies of formation or combustion.

Hess cycles

Hess cycles

Above shows how we can convert the principle of Hess' Law into an actual equation.
We can set up an equation using the pathways:
- ΔH₁ + ΔH₂ = ΔH₃
We can then subtitute in the known values and rearrange to find the unknown values.

Using enthalpies of formation

Using enthalpies of formation

The first type of Hess cycle is those that use enthalpies of formation to calculate an overall reaction's enthalpy change.
- We set up a cycle, as shown, which includes two enthalpies of formation arrows to create the cycle.

Using enthalpies of formation

Using enthalpies of formation

To do this we must know all the enthalpies of formation for the reactants and the products.
- The enthalpy of formation for any element is zero.

Using enthalpies of combustion

Using enthalpies of combustion

We can use a similar method to set up a cycle using enthalpies of combustion.
- Below ΔH₂ and ΔH₃ represent enthalpies of combustion.
  - This can be spotted by the combustion products: CO₂ + H₂O

1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.1.1Relative Masses 1.1.2The Mole 1.1.3Mass Spectrometry 1.1.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae 1.1.5Balanced Equations 1.1.6Molar Volume 1.1.7End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.2.1Fundamental Particles 1.2.2Isotopes & Mass Number 1.2.3Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals 1.2.4Electron Configuration 1.2.5Ionisation Energy 1.2.6Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies 1.2.7Trends of Ionisation 1.2.8Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies 1.2.9Electron Affinity 1.2.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure 1.2.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.3.1Ionic Bonding 1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding 1.3.3Shapes of Molecules 1.3.4Intermolecular Forces 1.3.5Intermolecular Forces 2 1.3.6Electronegativity 1.3.7Bond Length, Bond Energy, & Bond Polarity 1.3.8Metallic Bonding 1.3.9Physical Properties 1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding 1.3.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.4.1Simple Covalent Molecules 1.4.2The Ideal Gas Equation 1.4.3States of Matter 1.4.4Particle Diagrams 1.4.5The Liquid State 1.4.6Giant Ionic Lattices 1.4.7Giant Metallic Lattices 1.4.8Giant Covalent Structures 1.4.9Graphene & Fullerene 1.4.10Recycling

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.5.1Calorimetry 1.5.2Bond Enthalpies 1.5.3Enthalpy Changes 1.5.4Hess' Law 1.5.5Born-Haber Cycles 1.5.6Born-Haber Cycle Calculations 1.5.7Entropy 1.5.8Free Energy 1.5.9End of Topic Test - Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.6.1Electrochemical Cells 1.6.2Electrochemical Series 1.6.3Commercial Application 1.6.4Nernst Equation 1.6.5Redox

1.7

Equilibria

1.7.1Dynamic Equilibrium & Le Chatelier 1.7.2Kc 1.7.3Kp 1.7.4pH 1.7.5The Ionic Product of Water 1.7.6Weak Acids & Bases 1.7.7Introduction to Solubility Equilibria 1.7.8Solubility Equilibria Calculations 1.7.9Free Energy of Dissolution 1.7.10pH and Solubility 1.7.11Common-Ion Effect 1.7.12End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry 1.7.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Electrochemical Cells

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

1.9.1Collision Theory 1.9.2Orders, Rate Constants & Equations 1.9.3Rate Graphs 1.9.4Rate Determining Step 1.9.5Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution 1.9.6Catalysts 1.9.7Homogeneous Catalysts 1.9.8Heterogeneous Catalysts 1.9.9End of Topic Test - Kinetics 1.9.10End of Topic Test - Rate Equations 1.9.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Rate Equations

2

Inorganic Chemistry

2.1

The Periodic Table

2.1.1The Periodic Table 2.1.2Trends in the Periodic Table 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Periodicity & Trends 2.1.4Ceramics 2.1.5Period 3 Elements & Oxides 2.1.6Period 3 Oxides 2.1.7End of Topic Test - Period 3

2.2

Group 2

2.2.1Group 2 Chemistry

2.3

Group 17

2.3.1Introduction to Halogens 2.3.2Reactions of Halogens 2.3.3Chlorine & Chlorate(I)2.3.4End of Topic Test - Group 17 2.3.5A-A* (AO2/3) - Periodicity, Group 2 & 17

2.4

Transition Metals

2.4.1General Properties 2.4.2Titrations 2.4.3Shapes of Complex Ions 2.4.4Variable Oxidation States 2.4.5Ligands 2.4.6Colours of Ions 2.4.7Stereoisomerism of Complex Ions 2.4.8Cisplatin 2.4.9Ligand Substitutions & Kstab 2.4.10End of Topic Test - Transition Metals 2.4.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Transition Metals

2.5

Nitrogen & Sulfur

2.5.1Nitrogen & Ammonia 2.5.2Formulated vs Manure Fertilisers 2.5.3Nitrogen Containing Fertilisers 2.5.4Fertilizers & Eutrophication 2.5.5Common Atmospheric Pollutants & Their Properties 2.5.6Catalytic Converters 2.5.7Atmospheric Oxides

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.1.1Naming Conventions 3.1.2Mechanism 3.1.3Isomerism 3.1.4End of Topic Test - Introduction to Organic Chem

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.2.1Fractional Distillation 3.2.2Cracking 3.2.3Combustion 3.2.4Chlorination 3.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes 3.2.6Introduction to Alkenes 3.2.7Reactions of Alkenes 3.2.8Polymerisation Reactions 3.2.9End of Topic Test - Alkenes 3.2.10Arenes 3.2.11Evidence for Structure of Arenes 3.2.12Reactions of Benzene 3.2.13End of Topic Test -Arenes

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.3.1Properties of Haloalkanes 3.3.2Substitution Reactions of Haloalkanes 3.3.3Environmental Impacts of Haloalkanes 3.3.4End of Topic Test - Halogenoalkanes

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.4.1Types of Alcohol 3.4.2Oxidation 1 3.4.3Oxidation 2 3.4.4Elimination 3.4.5Acids & Esters 3.4.6Acyl Chlorides & Acylation 3.4.7Phenols & Their Reactions 3.4.8End of Topic Test - Alcohols

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.5.1Carbonyls 3.5.2Hydrogen Bonding & Carbonyls 3.5.3Aldehydes & Ketones 3.5.4Tri-Iodomethane Reaction 3.5.5End of Topic Test -Carbonyls

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.6.1Properties of Carboxylic Acids 3.6.2Esters 3.6.3Acyl Chlorides 3.6.4End of Topic Test - Carboxylic Acids

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.7.1Nature & Preparation of Amines 3.7.2Basicity & Nucleophilicity 3.7.3Amides 3.7.4Reactions of Amino Acids 3.7.5Amino Acids

3.8

Polymerisation

3.8.1Properties of Addition Polymers 3.8.2Condensation Polymerisation 3.8.3Effects of Side-Chains on Polymers 3.8.4Hydrolysis of Ester & Amide Groups 3.8.5Proteins 3.8.6DNA 3.8.7Adhesive & Conducting Polymers 3.8.8End of Topic Test - Amines & Proteins

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.9.1Chromatography 3.9.2High-Performance Liquid Chromatography 3.9.3Gas Chromatography 3.9.4IR Spectroscopy 3.9.5Uses of IR Spectroscopy 3.9.6Mass Spectrometry 3.9.7Mass Spectrometry Analysis 3.9.8Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 3.9.9Carbon-13 NMR 3.9.10Proton NMR I 3.9.11Proton NMR II 3.9.12End of Topic Test - Analytical Techniques 3.9.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

3.10.1Chirality & Drug Synthesis 3.10.2Organic Synthesis 3.10.3Examples of Synthetic Routes 3.10.4End of Topic Test - Organic Synthesis

Jump to other topics

1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.1.1Relative Masses 1.1.2The Mole 1.1.3Mass Spectrometry 1.1.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae 1.1.5Balanced Equations 1.1.6Molar Volume 1.1.7End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.2.1Fundamental Particles 1.2.2Isotopes & Mass Number 1.2.3Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals 1.2.4Electron Configuration 1.2.5Ionisation Energy 1.2.6Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies 1.2.7Trends of Ionisation 1.2.8Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies 1.2.9Electron Affinity 1.2.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure 1.2.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.3.1Ionic Bonding 1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding 1.3.3Shapes of Molecules 1.3.4Intermolecular Forces 1.3.5Intermolecular Forces 2 1.3.6Electronegativity 1.3.7Bond Length, Bond Energy, & Bond Polarity 1.3.8Metallic Bonding 1.3.9Physical Properties 1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding 1.3.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.4.1Simple Covalent Molecules 1.4.2The Ideal Gas Equation 1.4.3States of Matter 1.4.4Particle Diagrams 1.4.5The Liquid State 1.4.6Giant Ionic Lattices 1.4.7Giant Metallic Lattices 1.4.8Giant Covalent Structures 1.4.9Graphene & Fullerene 1.4.10Recycling

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.5.1Calorimetry 1.5.2Bond Enthalpies 1.5.3Enthalpy Changes 1.5.4Hess' Law 1.5.5Born-Haber Cycles 1.5.6Born-Haber Cycle Calculations 1.5.7Entropy 1.5.8Free Energy 1.5.9End of Topic Test - Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.6.1Electrochemical Cells 1.6.2Electrochemical Series 1.6.3Commercial Application 1.6.4Nernst Equation 1.6.5Redox

1.7

Equilibria

1.7.1Dynamic Equilibrium & Le Chatelier 1.7.2Kc 1.7.3Kp 1.7.4pH 1.7.5The Ionic Product of Water 1.7.6Weak Acids & Bases 1.7.7Introduction to Solubility Equilibria 1.7.8Solubility Equilibria Calculations 1.7.9Free Energy of Dissolution 1.7.10pH and Solubility 1.7.11Common-Ion Effect 1.7.12End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry 1.7.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Electrochemical Cells

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

1.9.1Collision Theory 1.9.2Orders, Rate Constants & Equations 1.9.3Rate Graphs 1.9.4Rate Determining Step 1.9.5Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution 1.9.6Catalysts 1.9.7Homogeneous Catalysts 1.9.8Heterogeneous Catalysts 1.9.9End of Topic Test - Kinetics 1.9.10End of Topic Test - Rate Equations 1.9.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Rate Equations

2

Inorganic Chemistry

2.1

The Periodic Table

2.1.1The Periodic Table 2.1.2Trends in the Periodic Table 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Periodicity & Trends 2.1.4Ceramics 2.1.5Period 3 Elements & Oxides 2.1.6Period 3 Oxides 2.1.7End of Topic Test - Period 3

2.2

Group 2

2.2.1Group 2 Chemistry

2.3

Group 17

2.3.1Introduction to Halogens 2.3.2Reactions of Halogens 2.3.3Chlorine & Chlorate(I)2.3.4End of Topic Test - Group 17 2.3.5A-A* (AO2/3) - Periodicity, Group 2 & 17

2.4

Transition Metals

2.4.1General Properties 2.4.2Titrations 2.4.3Shapes of Complex Ions 2.4.4Variable Oxidation States 2.4.5Ligands 2.4.6Colours of Ions 2.4.7Stereoisomerism of Complex Ions 2.4.8Cisplatin 2.4.9Ligand Substitutions & Kstab 2.4.10End of Topic Test - Transition Metals 2.4.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Transition Metals

2.5

Nitrogen & Sulfur

2.5.1Nitrogen & Ammonia 2.5.2Formulated vs Manure Fertilisers 2.5.3Nitrogen Containing Fertilisers 2.5.4Fertilizers & Eutrophication 2.5.5Common Atmospheric Pollutants & Their Properties 2.5.6Catalytic Converters 2.5.7Atmospheric Oxides

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.1.1Naming Conventions 3.1.2Mechanism 3.1.3Isomerism 3.1.4End of Topic Test - Introduction to Organic Chem

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.2.1Fractional Distillation 3.2.2Cracking 3.2.3Combustion 3.2.4Chlorination 3.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes 3.2.6Introduction to Alkenes 3.2.7Reactions of Alkenes 3.2.8Polymerisation Reactions 3.2.9End of Topic Test - Alkenes 3.2.10Arenes 3.2.11Evidence for Structure of Arenes 3.2.12Reactions of Benzene 3.2.13End of Topic Test -Arenes

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.3.1Properties of Haloalkanes 3.3.2Substitution Reactions of Haloalkanes 3.3.3Environmental Impacts of Haloalkanes 3.3.4End of Topic Test - Halogenoalkanes

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.4.1Types of Alcohol 3.4.2Oxidation 1 3.4.3Oxidation 2 3.4.4Elimination 3.4.5Acids & Esters 3.4.6Acyl Chlorides & Acylation 3.4.7Phenols & Their Reactions 3.4.8End of Topic Test - Alcohols

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.5.1Carbonyls 3.5.2Hydrogen Bonding & Carbonyls 3.5.3Aldehydes & Ketones 3.5.4Tri-Iodomethane Reaction 3.5.5End of Topic Test -Carbonyls

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.6.1Properties of Carboxylic Acids 3.6.2Esters 3.6.3Acyl Chlorides 3.6.4End of Topic Test - Carboxylic Acids

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.7.1Nature & Preparation of Amines 3.7.2Basicity & Nucleophilicity 3.7.3Amides 3.7.4Reactions of Amino Acids 3.7.5Amino Acids

3.8

Polymerisation

3.8.1Properties of Addition Polymers 3.8.2Condensation Polymerisation 3.8.3Effects of Side-Chains on Polymers 3.8.4Hydrolysis of Ester & Amide Groups 3.8.5Proteins 3.8.6DNA 3.8.7Adhesive & Conducting Polymers 3.8.8End of Topic Test - Amines & Proteins

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.9.1Chromatography 3.9.2High-Performance Liquid Chromatography 3.9.3Gas Chromatography 3.9.4IR Spectroscopy 3.9.5Uses of IR Spectroscopy 3.9.6Mass Spectrometry 3.9.7Mass Spectrometry Analysis 3.9.8Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 3.9.9Carbon-13 NMR 3.9.10Proton NMR I 3.9.11Proton NMR II 3.9.12End of Topic Test - Analytical Techniques 3.9.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

3.10.1Chirality & Drug Synthesis 3.10.2Organic Synthesis 3.10.3Examples of Synthetic Routes 3.10.4End of Topic Test - Organic Synthesis

Practice questions on Hess' Law

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

1
If the products were CO + H<sub>2</sub>O, what would the reactants be for the enthalpy of formation equation?Multiple choice
2
Which of the following does NOT have an enthalpy of formation of zero?Multiple choice

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Enthalpy Changes

Born-Haber Cycles