DOC BROWN'S Science-CHEMISTRY HOMEPAGE KS3 SCIENCE QUIZZES and WORKSHEETS (~US grades 6-8)
GCSE SCIENCE help links GCSE ADDITIONAL SCIENCE help links
KS3 BIOLOGY Quizzes KS3 CHEMISTRY Quizzes & Worksheets KS3 PHYSICS Quizzes
KS4 Science GCSE/IGCSE CHEMISTRY NOTES (~US grades 8-10) KS4 Science GCSE/IGCSE CHEMISTRY QUIZZES and WORKSHEETS (~US grades 8-10) ADVANCED LEVEL CHEMISTRY QUIZZES and WORKSHEETS (~US grades 11-12)
Custom Search

Doc Brown's A Level Chemistry  Advanced Level Theoretical Physical Chemistry - AS A2 Level Revision Notes - Basic Thermodynamics

GCE Thermodynamics-thermochemistry sub-index links below

Part 1 - ΔH Enthalpy Changes - The thermochemistry of enthalpies of reaction, formation, combustion and neutralisation

Part 1.2b(iv) Bond Enthalpy (bond dissociation energy) calculations for Enthalpy of Reaction

This page describes how to do enthalpy calculations involving bond enthalpies ('bond energies'). Bond enthalpy calculations using a Hess's Law cycle can be used to calculate unknown enthalpies but there are limitations to the results of these calculations since they are based on average bond enthalpies and only gaseous species.

Energetics index: GCSE Notes on the basics of chemical energy changes - important to study and know before tackling any of the three Advanced Level Chemistry pages Parts 1-3 here * Part 1a-b ΔH Enthalpy Changes 1.1 Advanced Introduction to enthalpy changes - reaction, formation, combustion : 1.2a & 1.2b(i)-(iii) Thermochemistry - Hess's Law and Enthalpy Calculations - reaction, combustion, formation etc. : 1.2b(iv) Bond Enthalpy Calculations  : 1.3a-b Experimental methods for determining enthalpy changes and treatment of results : 1.4 Some enthalpy data patterns : 1.4a The combustion of linear alkanes and linear aliphatic alcohols : 1.4b Some patterns in Bond Enthalpies and Bond Length : 1.4c Enthalpies of Neutralisation : 1.4d Enthalpies of Hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons and evidence of aromatic ring structure in benzene : Extra Q page A set of practice enthalpy calculations with worked out answers ** Part 2 ΔH Enthalpies of ion hydration, solution, atomisation, lattice energy, electron affinity and the Born-Haber cycle : 2.1a-c What happens when a salt dissolves in water and why? : 2.1d-e Enthalpy cycles involving a salt dissolving : 2.2a-c The Born-Haber Cycle *** Part 3 ΔS Entropy and ΔG Free Energy Changes : 3.1a-g Introduction to Entropy : 3.2 Examples of entropy values and comments * 3.3a ΔS, Entropy and change of state : 3.3b ΔS, Entropy changes and the feasibility of a chemical change : 3.4a-d More on ΔG, Free energy changes, feasibility and applications : 3.5 Calculating Equilibrium Constants : 3.6 Kinetic stability versus thermodynamic feasibility * PLEASE note that delta H/S/G values vary slightly from source to source, so I apologise in advance for any inconsistencies that may arise as I've researched and developed each section.

 

1.2b(iv) Bond Enthalpy (bond dissociation energy) calculations for Enthalpy of Reaction

Lots of simple 'starter' examples worked out on the GCSE energetics page in section 5

Unlike methods 1.2b (i, ii, iii) which all give precise and accurate enthalpy values, method 1.2b (iv) only gives an approximate value for reasons that will be explained later.

The bond enthalpy/energy is the energy required to break 1 mole of a specified bond for a gaseous species at 298K/25oC. (note gaseous species are specified)

i.e. A-B(g) ==> A(g) + B(g)    ΔHBE(A-B) = + ??? kJmol-1

The diagram above shows, in terms of a dot and cross diagram, the breaking of a C-Cl bond by homolytic bond fission.

Note that bond breaking is always endothermic (+) and bond formation is always exothermic (-).

How are bond enthalpies determined?

1. Just as spectroscopy can be used to determine ionisation energies (see hydrogen spectrum), spectroscopic techniques can be used to determine bond energies i.e. it is possible to estimate the frequency of radiation required to cause bond fission.

2. Electron impact methods - in essence it is a method which measures the energy to fragment molecules.

3. Thermochemical calculations - the method most appropriate to this pages level of study.

3. is illustrated by the diagram below to calculate the C=O bond enthalpy in carbon dioxide.

+498 is the bond enthalpy of the oxygen molecule (O=O) or twice the enthalpy of atomisation of oxygen.

+715 is the enthalpy of atomisation of carbon.

-393 is the enthalpy of combustion of carbon or the enthalpy of formation of carbon dioxide.

This becomes +393 in the Hess's Law cycle, arrow and sign reversed.

x is equal to twice the bond enthalpy of a C=O bond in a carbon dioxide molecule.

x is the only one of the four delta H values that cannot be determined by experiment.

However using Hess's Law

x = +393 +715 +498 = +1606 kJ mol-1

therefore the C=O bond energy in CO2 = 1606/2 = 803 kJ mol-1

A second example of using Hess's Law to calculate the average C-H bond enthalpy in the methane molecule

ΔHØf (methane) = -75 kJmol-1
    C(s) + 2H2(g) (c) doc b CH4(g)

ΔHθsub(C(s)) + 2 x ΔHθBE(H-H(g))

= (+715) + (2 x +436)

both endothermic

(c) doc b

C(g) +

 

4H(g)

-4 x avΔHθBE(C-H(g)) = -X

exothermic

formation of 4 C-H bonds

The cycle for the standard enthalpy of formation of methane, (ΔHθf), based on the enthalpy of sublimation of carbon (graphite) and the H-H and C-H bond enthalpies.

From Hess's Law, add up the sequence of enthalpy changes via the lower 'staged route' to get the overall enthalpy change for the enthalpy of formation of methane from its elements in their normal stable states.

ΔHθf (methane) = {ΔHθsub(C(s)) + 2 x ΔHθBE(H-H(g))} + {-4 x avΔHθBE(C-H(g))}  = -75 kJmol-1

-75 = +715 +872 -X

X = (715 + 872 +75) = 1662

avΔHθBE(C-H(g)) = 1662/4 = +415.5 kJmol-1

ENERGETICS INDEX 


Bond enthalpy calculations using average bond enthalpies

  • Bond enthalpy calculations using a Hess's Law cycle can be used to calculate unknown enthalpy changes for a reaction.

  • BUT there are limitations to the results of these calculations since they are based on ..

    • (i) average bond enthalpies (i.e. typical vales for a particular bond) and

    • (ii) only valid gaseous reactants AND products (quite restrictive, this because bond enthalpies are defined, measured and based on gaseous species only).

Ex 1. Calculating the enthalpy of a reaction

Given the following bond enthalpies in kJ mol-1: Cl-Cl = 242, H-H = 436, H-Cl = 431

Calculate the enthalpy of the reaction of forming 2 moles of hydrogen chloride from its elements in their standard states ... the Hess's Law cycle for this is ...

H2(g) + Cl2(g) (c) doc b 2HCl(g)

(c) doc b 2H(g) + 2Cl(g)

For simple Q's like this, unless asked for, you can solve easily without drawing a cycle, either way ...

ΔHθreaction = {endothermic ΔH for H2 and Cl2 bonds broken} + {exothermic ΔH for HCl bonds formed}

ΔHθreaction = {+436 +242} + {2 x -431}

ΔHθreaction = +(436 + 242 -862) = -184 kJmol-1

Note that ΔHθreaction /2 = -92 kJmol-1 = ΔHθf(HCl(g))


Ex 2. Given the following bond dissociation enthalpies at 298K in kJmol-1 ...
 Bond C-C (single) C-H C=O in CO2 O-H O=O
Bond enthalpy +348 +412 +805 +463 +496

... calculate the enthalpy of combustion of butane. You construct a Hess's Law Cycle from the 'normal' combustion equation and 'atomise' the reactant molecules to give ALL of the 'theoretical' intermediate atoms. From this you can  theoretically calculate the enthalpy of the reaction:

ΔHcomb, 298 (butane) = ??? kJmol-1
(g) + 61/2O=O(g) (c) doc b 4O=C=O(g) + 5H-O-H(g)

(3 x ΔHBE(C-C))

+ (10 x ΔHBE(C-H))

+ (6.5 x ΔHBE(O=O))

= (3 x +348) + (10 x +412) + (6.5 x +496)

(c) doc b

endothermic       

4C(g)

+ 10H(g)

+ 13O(g)

  

exothermic

-(8 x ΔHBE(C=O))

- (10 x ΔHBE(O-H))

= -(8 x 743) - (10 x 463)

ΔHcomb, 298 (butane) = 1044 + 4120 + 3224 -6440 -4630 = -2682 kJmol-1

The true thermodynamic value from very accurate calorimetry experiments is -2877 kJmol-1

So why the significant difference/error?

The difference is the theoretical value from the bond energy calculation is less exothermic by 195 kJ.

All enthalpy calculations done by this method will always be in error to some extent because the bond enthalpies quoted in data information are based on average values for that particular bond. Each 'A-B' bond will differ slightly depending on the 'ambient' electronic situation e.g.

The C-H bond in methane, alkanes structure and naming (c) doc b, will be slightly different than in ethane, alkanes structure and naming (c) doc b etc.

See also further discussion on methane's C-H bonds at the end of section 1.4 namely 1.4b(iii) point (c)

There is a 2nd reason which for some reason many textbooks don't bother to mention. Since only gaseous species can be considered, if any reactant or product is a liquid or solid, then the enthalpy value for any state change is NOT taken into account. For example, in the above example, five molecules of water are formed which at 298K would condense to water and this is an exothermic process. ΔHvap for water is 41 kJmol-1, so if water condensation takes place then 5 x 41 = 205 kJ extra would be released and this actually accounts for most of the error!

ENERGETICS INDEX 

Ex 3. example of bond enthalpy calculation method

Liquid Hydrazine N2H4 and hydrogen peroxide H2O2 have both been used as rocket fuels.

Hydrazine has been used as monopropellant in rocket engines because it can catalysed to decompose into nitrogen and hydrogen gas very rapidly and exothermically.

(1)  N2H4 ==> N2 + 2H2

Hydrazine can also be used to power rockets in combination with hydrogen peroxide (a bipropellant fuel).

(2)  N2H4 + 2H2O2 ==> N2 + 4H2O

From the list of bond enthalpies in kJmol-1, given below, calculate the enthalpy changes for reactions (1) and (2)

 Bond N-H Nalkene (c) doc bN N-N H-H O-H O-O
Bond enthalpy +388 +944 +163 +436 463 +146

For (1)  N2H4 ==> N2 + 2H2

H2N-NH2 (c) doc b Nalkene (c) doc bN + 2H-H

ΔHBE(N-N)

+ (4 x ΔHBE(N-H))

= (+163) + (4 x +388)

(c) doc b

endothermic       

2N + 4H   

exothermic

-(ΔHBE(Nalkene (c) doc bN))

- (2 x ΔHBE(H-H))

= -(+944) -(2 x 436)

ΔHreaction(decomp N2H4) = +163 + (4 x 388) -944 - (2 x 436)

= +163 +1552 -944 -872 = -101 kJmol-1

For (2)  N2H4 + 2H2O2 ==> N2 + 4H2O

H2N-NH2 + 2H2O2 (c) doc b Nalkene (c) doc bN + 4H-O-H

ΔHBE(N-N)

+ (4 x ΔHBE(N-H))

+ (2 x ΔHBE(O-O))

+ (4 x ΔHBE(O-H))  

= (+163) + (4 x +388) + (2 x +146) + (4 x +463)

(c) doc b

endothermic       

2N + 8H + 4O   

exothermic

-(ΔHBE(Nalkene (c) doc bN))

- (8 x ΔHBE(O-H))

= -(+944) -(8 x +463)

watch the - signs!

ΔHreaction(combustion N2H4) = +163 +1552 +292 +1852 -944 -3704

ΔHreaction(combustion N2H4) = -789 kJmol-1

which is considerably more exothermic than the catalysed thermal decomposition of hydrazine into nitrogen and hydrogen,

but the mixture is more costly and more dangerous to handle!


A set of enthalpy calculation problems with worked out answers - based on enthalpies of reaction, formation, combustion and bond enthalpies

ENERGETICS INDEX

A level Revision notes for GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level AS Advanced Level A2 IB Revise AQA GCE Chemistry OCR GCE Chemistry Edexcel GCE Chemistry Salters Chemistry CIE Chemistry, WJEC GCE AS A2 Chemistry, CCEA/CEA GCE AS A2 Chemistry revising courses for pre-university students (equal to US grade 11 and grade 12 and AP Honours/honors level courses) revision aids for revising A level chemistry courses revision guides

Website content copyright © Dr W P Brown 2000-2012 All rights reserved on revision notes, puzzles, quizzes, worksheets, x-words etc. * Copying of website material is not permitted chemhelp@tiscali.co.uk

Alphabetical Index for Science Pages Content A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BIG SITE HELP SEARCH Enter several specific words/formula etc.