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Chapter 10: Thermochemistry

10.5 Hess’s Law

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain Hess’s law and use it to compute reaction enthalpies

Hess’s Law

There are two ways to determine the amount of heat involved in a chemical change: measure it experimentally, or calculate it from other experimentally determined enthalpy changes. Some reactions are difficult, if not impossible, to investigate and make accurate measurements for experimentally. And even when a reaction is not hard to perform or measure, it is convenient to be able to determine the heat involved in a reaction without having to perform an experiment.

This type of calculation usually involves the use of Hess’s law, which states: If a process can be written as the sum of several stepwise processes, the enthalpy change of the total process equals the sum of the enthalpy changes of the various steps. Hess’s law is valid because enthalpy is a state function: Enthalpy changes depend only on where a chemical process starts and ends, but not on the path it takes from start to finish. For example, we can think of the reaction of carbon with oxygen to form carbon dioxide as occurring either directly or by a two-step process. The direct process is written:

C(s)+O2(g)CO2(g)ΔH=394 kJ

In the two-step process, first carbon monoxide is formed:

C(s)+12O2(g)CO(g)ΔH=111 kJ

Then, carbon monoxide reacts further to form carbon dioxide:

CO(g)+12O2(g)CO(g)ΔH=283 kJ

The equation describing the overall reaction is the sum of these two chemical changes:

Step 1: C(s)+12O2(g)CO(g)Step 2: CO(g)+12O2(g)CO2(g)Sum: C(s)+12O2(g)+CO(g)+12O2(g)CO(g)+CO2(g)

Because the CO produced in Step 1 is consumed in Step 2, the net change is:

C(s)+O2(g)CO2(g)

According to Hess’s law, the enthalpy change of the reaction will equal the sum of the enthalpy changes of the steps. We can apply the data from the experimental enthalpies of combustion in Table 1 to find the enthalpy change of the entire reaction from its two steps:

C(s)+12O2(g)CO(g)ΔH=111 kJCO(g)+12O2(g)CO2(g)ΔH=283 kJC(s)+O2(g)CO2(g)ΔH=394 kJ

The result is shown in Figure 10.3.6. We see that ΔH of the overall reaction is the same whether it occurs in one step or two. This finding (overall ΔH for the reaction = sum of ΔH values for reaction “steps” in the overall reaction) is true in general for chemical and physical processes.

A diagram is shown. A long arrow faces upward on the left with the phrase “H increasing.” A horizontal line at the bottom of the diagram is shown with the formula “C O subscript 2 (g)” below it. A horizontal line at the top of the diagram has the formulas “C (s) + O subscript 2 (g)” above it. The top and bottom lines are connected by a downward facing arrow with the value “Δ H = –394 k J” written beside it. Below and to the right of the top horizontal line is a second horizontal line with the equations “C O (g) + one half O subscript 2 (g)” above it. This line and the bottom line are connected by a downward facing arrow with the value “Δ H = –283 k J” written beside it. The same line and the top line are connected by a downward facing arrow with the value “Δ H = –111 k J” written beside it. There are three brackets to the right of the diagram. The first bracket runs from the top horizontal line to the second horizontal line. It is labeled, “Enthalpy of reactants.” The second bracket runs from the second horizontal line to the bottom horizontal line. It is labeled, “Enthalpy of products.” Both of these brackets are included in the third bracket which runs from the top to the bottom of the diagram. It is labeled, “Enthalpy change of exothermic reaction in 1 or 2 steps.”
Figure 10.3.6. The formation of COA2(g) from its elements can be thought of as occurring in two steps, which sum to the overall reaction, as described by Hess’s law. The horizontal blue lines represent enthalpies. For an exothermic process, the products are at lower enthalpy than are the reactants.

Before we further practice using Hess’s law, let us recall two important features of ΔH.

  1. ΔH is directly proportional to the quantities of reactants or products. For example, the enthalpy change for the reaction forming 1 mole of NOA2(g) is +33.2 kJ:

    12N2(g)+O2(g)NO2(g)ΔH=+33.2 kJ

    When 2 moles of NOA2 (twice as much) are formed, the ΔH will be twice as large:

    N2(g)+2O2(g)2NO2(g)ΔH=+66.4 kJ

    In general, if we multiply or divide an equation by a number, then the enthalpy change should also be multiplied or divided by the same number.

  2. ΔH for a reaction in one direction is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to ΔH for the reaction in the reverse direction. For example, given that:

    H2(g)+Cl2(g)2HCl(g)ΔH=184.6 kJ

    Then, for the “reverse” reaction, the enthalpy change is also “reversed:”

    2HCl(g)H2(g)+Cl2(g)ΔH=+184.6 kJ

Example 10.3.6: Stepwise Calculation of ΔHf Using Hess’s Law

Determine the enthalpy of formation, ΔHf, of FeClA3(s) from the enthalpy changes of the following two-step process that occurs under standard state conditions:

Fe(s)+Cl2(g)FeCl2(s)ΔH=341.8 kJ

FeCl2(s)+12Cl2(g)FeCl3(s)ΔH=57.7 kJ

Show Solution

We are trying to find the standard enthalpy of formation of FeClA3(s), which is equal to ΔH° for the reaction:

Fe(s)+32Cl2(g)FeCl3(s)ΔHf=?

Looking at the reactions, we see that the reaction for which we want to find ΔH° is the sum of the two reactions with known ΔH values, so we must sum their ΔHs:

Fe(s)+Cl2(g)FeCl2(s)ΔH=341.8 kJFeCl2(s)+12Cl2(g)FeCl3(s)ΔH=57.7 kJFe(s)+12Cl2(g)FeCl3(s)ΔH=399.5 kJ

The enthalpy of formation, ΔHf, of FeClA3(s) is −399.5 kJ/mol.

Check Your Learning

Example 10.3.7: A More Challenging Problem Using Hess’s Law

Chlorine monofluoride can react with fluorine to form chlorine trifluoride:

(i) ClF(g)+F2(g)ClF3(g)ΔH=?

Use the reactions here to determine the ΔH° for reaction (i):

(ii) 2OF2(g)O2(g)+2F2(g)ΔH(ii)=49.4 kJ

(iii) 2ClF(g)+O2(g)Cl2O(g)+OF2(g)ΔH(iii)=+214.0 kJ

(iv) ClF3(g)+O2(g)12Cl2O(g)+32OF2(g)ΔH(iv)=+236.2 kJ

Show Solution

Our goal is to manipulate and combine reactions (ii), (iii), and (iv) such that they add up to reaction (i). Going from left to right in (i), we first see that ClF(g) is needed as a reactant. This can be obtained by multiplying reaction (iii) by 12, which means that the Δ change is also multiplied by 12:

ClF(g)+O2(g)12Cl2O(g)+12OF2(g)ΔH=12(214.0)=+107.0 kJ

Next, we see that FA2 is also needed as a reactant. To get this, reverse and halve reaction (ii), which means that the ΔH° changes sign and is halved:

12O2(g)+F2(g)OF2(g)ΔH=+24.7 kJ

To get ClFA3 as a product, reverse (iv), changing the sign of ΔH°:

12Cl2O(g)+32OF2(g)ClF3(g)+O2(g)ΔH=-236.2 kJ

Now check to make sure that these reactions add up to the reaction we want:

ClF(g)+12O2(g)12Cl2O(g)+12OF2(g)ΔH=+107.0 kJ12O2(g)+F2(g)OF2(g)ΔH=+24.7 kJ12Cl2O(g)+32OF2(g)ClF3(g)+O2(g)ΔH=236.2 kJClF(g)+F2ClF3(g)ΔH=104.5 kJ

Reactants 12O2 and 12O2 cancel out product O2; product 12Cl2O cancels reactant 12Cl2O; and reactant 32OF2 is cancelled by products 12OF2 and OF2. This leaves only reactants ClF(g) and F2(g) and product ClF3(g), which are what we want. Since summing these three modified reactions yields the reaction of interest, summing the three modified ΔH° values will give the desired ΔH°:

ΔH=(+107.0 kJ)+(24.7 kJ)+(236.2 kJ)=104.5 kJ

Check Your Learning

We also can use Hess’s law to determine the enthalpy change of any reaction if the corresponding enthalpies of formation of the reactants and products are available. The stepwise reactions we consider are: (i) decompositions of the reactants into their component elements (for which the enthalpy changes are proportional to the negative of the enthalpies of formation of the reactants), followed by (ii) re-combinations of the elements to give the products (with the enthalpy changes proportional to the enthalpies of formation of the products). The standard enthalpy change of the overall reaction is therefore equal to: (ii) the sum of the standard enthalpies of formation of all the products plus (i) the sum of the negatives of the standard enthalpies of formation of the reactants. This is usually rearranged slightly to be written as follows, with ∑ representing “the sum of” and n standing for the stoichiometric coefficients:

ΔHreaction=n×ΔHf(products)n×ΔHf(reactants)

The following example shows in detail why this equation is valid, and how to use it to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction of interest.

Example 10.3.8: Using Hess’s Law

What is the standard enthalpy change for the reaction:

3NO2(g)+H2O(l)2HNO3(aq)+NO(g)ΔH=?

There are two possible solutions for this reaction. The first solution supports why the general equation is valid, the second solution uses the equation.

Show Solution 1

Solution 1 (Supporting Why the General Equation Is Valid)

We can write this reaction as the sum of the decompositions of 3NOA2(g) and 1HA2O(l) into their constituent elements, and the formation of 2HNOA3(aq) and 1NO(g) from their constituent elements. Writing out these reactions, and noting their relationships to the ΔHf values for these compounds (from Standard Thermodynamic Properties for Selected Substances), we have:

3NO2(g)32N2(g)+3O2(g)ΔH1=99.6 kJ
H2O(l)H2(g)+12O2(g)ΔH2=+285.8 kJ[1×ΔHf(H2O)]
H2(g)+N2(g)+3O2(g)2HNO3(aq)ΔH3=414.8 kJ[2×ΔHf(HNO3)]
12N2(g)+12O2(g)NO(g)ΔH4=+90.2 kJ[1×(NO)]

Summing these reaction equations gives the reaction we are interested in:

3NO2(g)+H2O(l)2HNO3(aq)+NO(g)

Summing their enthalpy changes gives the value we want to determine:

ΔHrxn=ΔH1+ΔH2+ΔH3+ΔH4=(99.6kJ)+(+285.8kJ)+(414.8kJ)+(+90.2kJ)=138.4 kJ

So the standard enthalpy change for this reaction isΔH=138.4 kJ.

Note that this result was obtained by (1) multiplying the ΔHf of each product by its stoichiometric coefficient and summing those values, (2) multiplying the ΔHf of each reactant by its stoichiometric coefficient and summing those values, and then (3) subtracting the result found in (2) from the result found in (1). This is also the procedure in using the general equation, as shown.

Show Solution 2

Solution 2 (Using the Equation)

Alternatively, we could use the special form of Hess’s law given previously:

ΔHreaction=n×ΔHf(products)n×ΔHf(reactants)=[2molHNO3×207.4kJmolHNO3(aq)+1molNO(g)×+90.2kJmolNO(g)][3molNO2(g)×+33.2kJmolNO2(g)+1molH2O(l)×285.8kJmolH2O(l)]=2(207.4kJ)+1(+90.2kJ)3(+33.2kJ)1(285.8kJ)=138.4 kJ

Check Your Learning

Key Concepts and Summary

If the enthalpies of formation are available for the reactants and products of a reaction, the enthalpy change can be calculated using Hess’s law: If a process can be written as the sum of several stepwise processes, the enthalpy change of the total process equals the sum of the enthalpy changes of the various steps.

Key Equations

  • ΔU=q+w
  • ΔHreaction=n×ΔHf(products)n×ΔHf(reactants)

Try It

  1. Explain how the heat measured in Example 10.2.3 of Calorimetry differs from the enthalpy change for the exothermic reaction described by the following equation:
    1. HCl(aq)+NaOH(aq)NaCl(aq)+H2O(l)
  2. Calculate the enthalpy of solution (ΔH for the dissolution) per mole of NH4NO3 under the conditions described in Figure 10.2.6 in Calorimetry.
  3. How much heat is produced by burning 4.00 moles of acetylene under standard state conditions?
  4. How many moles of isooctane must be burned to produce 100 kJ of heat under standard state conditions?
  5. When 2.50 g of methane burns in oxygen, 125 kJ of heat is produced. What is the enthalpy of combustion per mole of methane under these conditions?
  6. Does the standard enthalpy of formation of HA2O(g) differ from ΔH° for the reaction 2H2(g)+O2(g)2H2O(g)?
  7. How many kilojoules of heat will be released when exactly 1 mole of manganese, Mn, is burned to form MnA3OA4(s) at standard state conditions?
  8. The following sequence of reactions occurs in the commercial production of aqueous nitric acid:
    1. 4NH3(g)+5O2(g)4NO(g)+6H2O(l)ΔH=907 kJ2NO(g)+O2(g)2NO2(g)ΔH=113 kJ3NO2+H2O(l)2HNO2(aq)+NO(g)ΔH=139 kJ
  9. Determine the total energy change for the production of one mole of aqueous nitric acid by this process.
  10. Calculate the standard molar enthalpy of formation of NO(g) from the following data:
    1. N2(g)+2O22NO2(g)ΔH298=66.4 kJ2NO(g)+O22NO2(g)ΔH298=114.1 kJ
  11. Using the data in Standard Thermodynamic Properties for Selected Substances, calculate the standard enthalpy change for each of the following reactions:
      1. Si(s)+2F2(g)SiF4(g)
      2. 2C(s)+2H2(g)+O2(g)CH3CO2H(l)
      3. CH4(g)+N2(g)HCN(g)+NH3(g)
      4. Cs2(g)+3Cl2(g)CCl4(g)+S2Cl2(g)
  12. Calculate ΔH for the process Hg2Cl2(s)2Hg(l)+Cl2(g) from the following information:
    1. Hg(l)+Cl2(g)HgCl2(s)ΔH=224 kJHg(l)+HgCl2(s)Hg2Cl2(s)ΔH=41.2 kJ
  13. Calculate the enthalpy of combustion of butane, CA4HA10(g) for the formation of HA2O(g) and COA2(g). The enthalpy of formation of butane is −126 kJ/mol.
  14. The enthalpy of combustion of hard coal averages −35 kJ/g, that of gasoline, 1.28 × 105 kJ/gal. How many kilograms of hard coal provide the same amount of heat as is available from 1.0 gallon of gasoline? Assume that the density of gasoline is 0.692 g/mL (the same as the density of isooctane).
Show Selected Solutions
  1.  The enthalpy change of the indicated reaction is for exactly 1 mol HCL and 1 mol NaOH; the heat in the example is produced by 0.0500 mol HCl and 0.0500 mol NaOH.
  2. The molar mass of NHA4NOA3 is 80.0423 g/mol. From the example, 1000 J is required to dissolve 3.21 g of NHA4NOA3. One mole under the same conditions would require

    80.0432g mol13.21g×1000 J=25 kJ mol1.

    (The heat of solution is positive because the process is endothermic.)

  3. The heat of combustion is -1301.1 as given in Table 10.3.1.

    heat released = 4.00 mol × (-1301.1 kJ/mol) = 5204.4 kJ

  4. The value of ΔHcomb = -5461 kJ/mol. To produce 100 kJ requires:

    100 kJ5461 kJmol1=1.83×102 mol.

  5. The molar mass of CHA4 is 16.04 g/mol. Find the mole of CHA4 present:

    2.50g16.04gmol1=0.15586 mol

    ΔHcomb=125 kJ0.15586mol=802 kJmol1.

  6. No. The standard enthalpy of formation can be determined for anything, including HA2O(g), and water does not have to be liquid in this case, it’s the gas-phase water that is the substance for which the heat of formation is to be found. However, the heat of this reaction is defined for two moles of HA2O(g), thus the heat of formation is half of the heat of the reaction.
  7. This process requires 3 mol of Mn. For 1 mol, 13(1378.83 kJ)=459.6 kJ.
  8. Enough material must be produced in each stage to proceed with the next. So 12 of reaction 1 produces the NO required in reaction 2. But 32 units of reaction 2 are required to provide enough NOA2 for reaction 3. Up to this stage, the heat produced is 32[12(907)+(113)]=32(566.55)=850 kJ to have the material to proceed with reaction 3. Therefore, from beginning to end, –850 + (–139) = –989 kJ are released. The question asks for the enthalpy change for 1 mole. Therefore, division of the last answer by 2 gives -495 kJ/mol.
  9. Hess’s law can be applied to the two equations by reversing the direction of the second equation. The first equation is a formation reaction and is so indicated by writing ΔH298.

    N2(g)+2O2(g)2NO2(g)ΔH298=66.4 kJ2NO2(g)2NO(g)+O2(g)ΔH=114.1 kJ

    Adding the equations yields:

    N2(g)+O2(g)2NO(g)ΔH=180.5 kJ

    This is the heat of formation of 2 mol of NO. For 1 mol,

    ΔH298=180.5 kJ2=90.3 mol1ofNO.

  10. The standard enthalpy changes are as follows:
    1. Si(s)+2F2(g)SiF4(g)
      ΔHreaction=ΔHproductsΔHreactants=ΔHSiF4(g)ΔHSi(s)2ΔHF2(g)=1614.9(0)2(0)=1615.0 kJmol1
    2. 2C(s)+2H2(g)+O2(g)CH3CO2H(l)
      ΔHreaction=ΔHproductsΔHreactants=ΔHCH3CO2H(l)2ΔHC(s)2ΔHH2(g)ΔHO2(g)=484.52(0)2(0)(0)=484.3 kJmol1
    3. CH4(g)C(s)+2H2(g)ΔH1=(74.6 kJ)
      12H2(g)+C(s)+12N2(g)HCN(g)ΔH2=135.5 kJ12N2(g)+32H2(g)NH3(g)ΔH3=45.9 kJCH4(g)+N2(g)HCN(g)+NH3(g)ΔH=164.2 kJ
    4. CS2(g)C(s)+2S(s)ΔH1=(116.9 kJ)
      C(s)+2Cl2(g)CCl4(g)ΔH2=95.7 kJ2S(s)+Cl2(g)S2Cl2(g)ΔH3=19.50 kJCS2(g)+3Cl2(g)CCl4(g)+S2Cl2(g)ΔH=232.1 kJ
  11. Reverse the direction of both equations and add the new equations and enthalpies.

    HgCl2Hg(l)+Cl2(l)ΔH=224 kJHg2Cl2(s)Hg(l)+HgCl2(s)ΔH=41.2 kJHg2Cl2(s)2Hg(l)+Cl2(g)ΔH=265 kJ

  12. The enthalpy can be found through the following steps:

    Step1:4[C(s)+O2(g)CO2(g)]ΔH=4(394 kJmol1)Step2:5[H2(g)+12O2(g)H2O(g)]ΔH=5(242 kJmol1)Step3:C4H104C(s)+5H2(g)ΔH=+126 kJmol1Sum:C4H10+132O2(g)4CO2(g)+5H2O(l)ΔH298=2660 kJmol1

  13. the amount of heat produced by burning of 1.0 gallon of gasoline is:

    q = 1.0 gallon × (–1.28 × 105 kJ/gal) =–1.28 × 105 kJ
    Mass × (–35 kJ/g) =–1.28 × 105 kJ
    Mass = 3657 g or 3.7 kg

Glossary

Hess’s law: if a process can be represented as the sum of several steps, the enthalpy change of the process equals the sum of the enthalpy changes of the steps

 

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