Enthalpy

Most of the chemical reactions that we do in the lab is done under constant pressure, they take place in vessels open to the atmosphere and the prevailing pressure of the room e.g
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl(aq) + H2(g)

In this reaction, heat will be liberated. To measure the heat liberated for chemical reactions that are under constant pressure, chemists had introduced a term called Enthalpy(H), which is defined as the sum of the internal energy and the pressure-volume product of the system. H = U + PV But in any reaction, the reactants would have their initial internal energy and therefore when the reaction takes place, it will be only the change in the internal energy and hence the change in the enthalpy. In any reaction, we can measure only the enthalpy change, i.e H = U + PV

In summary, The heat content of a chemical system is called the enthalpy (symbol: H) The enthalpy change (H) is the amount of heat released or absorbed when a chemical reaction occurs at constant pressure. H = H(products) - H(reactants)
H

is specified per mole of substance as in the balanced chemical equation for the reaction. The units are usually given as kJ mol-1 (kJ/mol) or sometimes as kcal mol-1 (kcal/mol).

Energy changes are measured under standard laboratory conditions (S.L.C.)

A negative value of H indicates that the reaction is exothermic. A positive value would indicate that the reaction is endothermic.

H<0

H>0

Enthalpy Diagram for Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

Enthalpies of reaction

Enthalpy and enthalpy change for a chemical reaction

H = -890 kJ H = +181.66 kJ H = x 181.66 kJ = +90.83 kJ

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) 2HgO(s) HgO(s)

CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) 2Hg(l) + O2(g) Hg(l) + O2(g)

Example: Given the equation: H2(g) + I2(s)

2HI(g)

H = +52.96 kJ

Calculate H for the reaction HI(g)

H2(g) + I2(s)

Solution H = +52.96 kJ H = -52.96 kJ

H2(g) + I2(s) 2HI(g)

2HI(g)

H2(g) + I2(s)

HI(g)

H2(g) + I2(s)

H = - x 52.96 kJ
= -26.48 kJ

Exercise: 1. Given the equation, 3O2(g) 3/2O2(g) 2. Given the equation, 2Ag2S(s) + 2H2O(l) Ag(s) + H2S(g) + 1/4O2(g) 4Ag(s) + 2H2S(g) + O2(g) Ag2S(s) + H2O(l) H = +595.5 kJ Calculate H for the following reaction, 2O3(g) O3(g) H = +285.4kJ

Calculate H for the following reaction

How much heat is released when 4.50g of methane gas is burned in a constant-pressure system
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) 1 mole CH4 = -890kj 4.50g = 4.5/16 = 0.28125 mole Heat realease = 0.28125 X -890 Kj = -250Kj CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) H = -890kJ

Exercise Express the following information as a chemical equation. At 25oC and at a constant pressure, dinitrogen trioxide gas decomposes to nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide gases with the absorption of 0.533 kJ of heat for every gram of dinitrogen trioxide that decomposes.

Exercise Hydrogen peroxide can decompose to water and oxygen by the reaction.

2H2O2 (l)

2H2O (l) + O2 (g)

H = -196kj

Calculate the value of q when 5.00g of H2O2 decomposes at constatnt pressure.