Acids and Bases
Equilibria
Equilibrium Constants
Free-Energy & Entropy
Enthalpy
Further Enthalpy
Hess's Law
Kinetics
Rate of Reaction
Redox Equilibria
Redox Reactions

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Further Enthalpy

The Enthalpies

Previously the enthalpies of formation and combustion have been discussed. However, there are numerous others. In the table below, some of these have been outlined, with a definition given.

EnthalpyDefinition
Atomisation ΔHθaThe standard enthalpy change when 1mol of gaseous atoms are formed. Depending on the standard state of the element, this could also be called the enthalpy of sublimation if going from solid to gas.
Bond dissociation, ΔHθdissThe standard enthalpy change when 1mol of gaseous covalently bonded molecule is broken to form 2 radicals. So the enthalpy change for A (g) ® X. (g) + Y..
Electron Affinity, ΔHθeaThe standard molar enthalpy change when an electron is added to an atom in the gas phase. For example: Cl (g) + e- ® Cl- (g)
Lattice Enthalpy, ΔHθLThe standard enthalpy change accompanying dissociation: the seperation of 1 mol of solid ionic lattice into gaseous ions; formation the creation of 1 mol of solid from gas ions. Note that formation enthalpies are always negative and dissociation positive.
Hydration, ΔHθhydThe standard molar enthalpy change for the process: X+/- (g)® X+/- (aq).
Solution, ΔHθsolThe standard enthalpy change when 1mole of ionic solid dissolves in enough water that none of the dissolved ions interact with each other.

Born-Haber Cycle

Born-Haber cycles expand Hess's Law by breaking up the lattice formation enthalpy in to numerous other steps. Given the data for various enthalpies, it shouldn't be too difficult to deduce various reactions. Below is an example.

example of Born-Haber cycle

The enthalpy we are finding has been highlighted, it is the lattice enthalpy of formation of NaCl. It has the reaction:

Na+ (g) + Cl- (g) ® NaCl (s)

Once the cycle has been constructed, calculating the enthalpy is a simple case of following the alternative route for the reaction. Remember that if you go in the opposite direction of the arrow, the sign of the enthalpy is reversed (ie. +20 become -20 or vice versa).
364 - (½x242) - 494 - 109 - 411
711 kJ mol-1

It is possible to calculate the enthalpy of any reaction using the same principle of making several steps of different enthalpies, for example, the enthalpy of solution. Be careful of state symbols and the number of moles involved though!

Mean Bond Enthalpy

There is a certain amount of energy required for breaking bonds and given out in forming them. Therefore it should be a simple case of using the amount of energy in each bond to calculate the enthalpy change of a reaction. However, this is not possible because the bond enthalpy for the same bond will vary in different compounds and conditions.

However, in the absence of sufficient enthalpies, an average of the energy in each bond can be used as an estimate. This is called the mean bond enthalpy. The example below shows how they can be used.

calculating enthalpy of combustion of ethanol using mean bond enthalpy