Enthalpy Changes
LEARNING OUTCOMES
■ Distinguish between exothermic and
endothermic reactions in terms of energy
content of products and reactants
■ Draw an energy profile diagram to illustrate
endothermic and exothermic change
■ Calculate energy changes from experiments
or experimental data
Exothermic reactions
■ When a piece of magnesium ribbon burns
in air or oxygen, heat and light energy are
produced.
■ This type of chemical reaction in which heat
energy is produced and given out to the
surroundings is called an exothermic change
or reaction.
An exothermic reaction is a reaction in which heat energy
is given out to the surroundings.
Exothermic reactions
■ During an exothermic reaction,
the temperature of the
surroundings rises since heat
energy is given out by the
reaction.
Other exothermic reactions
■ Freezing and condensation (physical changes)
■ Combustion of fuels
■ Neutralisation of acids and alkalis
■ Dissolving solid sodium hydroxide, anhydrous sodium
carbonate and anhydrous copper(II) sulphate in water
■ Adding water to concentrated sulphuric acid
Endothermic reactions
■ When ammonium chloride crystals are dissolved in
water, there is a drop in temperature. This shows that
heat energy is absorbed from the surroundings.
An endothermic reaction is a
reaction in which heat energy is
absorbed from the surroundings.
■ In an endothermic reaction, the
temperature of the surroundings drops,
since heat energy is absorbed.
Other Endothermic reactions
■ Melting and boiling (physical changes)
■ Thermal decomposition of compounds such as calcium
carbonate (limestone) and copper(II) carbonate
■ Photosynthesis
■ Taking a photograph with film (decomposition of
silver bromide into silver and bromine)
■ Dissolving ionic crystals in water, e.g.
dissolving ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and
sodium carbonate crystals in water
Heat of Reaction
■ The amount of heat energy given out or taken in
during a chemical reaction is called the heat of reaction
or enthalpy change.
■ Enthalpy change is represented by the symbol, ∆H.
■ Matter contains both potential and kinetic energies. During
an exothermic reaction, heat is given out by the reactants
to the surroundings. Thus, enthalpy change is negative.
■ During an endothermic reaction, heat energy is absorbed
by from the surroundings. Reactants gain energy, so
enthalpy change is positive.
Heat of Reaction
■ In an exothermic reaction, the
reactants are at a higher energy
level than that of the products.
■ The excess heat energy is given
out by the reactants when the
products are formed.
■ Since the reactants have lost
Exothermic reaction
heat energy, we take ∆H as
negative.
Heat of Reaction
■ In an endothermic reaction,
the reactants are at a lower
energy level than that of
the products.
■ Heat energy is absorbed
by the reactants from the
surroundings in order to
change to the products. Endothermic reaction
■ Since the reactants have gained
heat energy, we take ∆H as
positive.
Heat of Reaction
■ The heat of reaction can be included in a chemical
equation as:
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) 🡪 CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) [∆H = - 890 kJ]
■ The negative value of ∆H means that the reaction is
exothermic.
■ “890 kJ” means that when 1 mole of methane burns completely
in oxygen, 890 kJ of heat energy is given out.
Heat of Reaction
CaCO3 🡪 CaO + CO2 [∆ H = + 222 kJ]
■ The positive value of ∆H means that the reaction is
endothermic.
■ “222 kJ” means that when 1 mole of calcium carbonate is
decomposed, 222 kJ of heat energy is absorbed.
Bond breaking and bond making
■ The reason why reactions are endothermic or
exothermic is because energy is taken in or given out
when chemical bonds are broken or made.
■ Heat energy is absorbed to break bonds, so bond
breaking is endothermic.
Bond breaking and bond making
■ Heat energy is given out (released) when bonds
are formed, so bond forming is exothermic.
Bond breaking and bond making
■ So, the overall heat change in a reaction is given by:
Heat of reaction, ∆H = Heat absorbed Heat given out
in bond breaking in bond forming
■ If more energy is absorbed for breaking bonds than
released in forming bonds, the reaction will be
endothermic.
■ If more energy is released in forming bonds than
absorbed for breaking bonds, the reaction will be
exothermic.
Worked example
Hydrogen burns in oxygen to form water according to the equation:
2H2(g) + O2(g)🡪 2H2O (g)
By calculating ∆H, state whether the reaction will be endothermic or
exothermic, given the following bond energies per mole:
H-H = 436 kJ, O=O = 496 kJ, O-H = 463 kJ.
Solution: H H O O O
+
H H H H H H
O
Energy absorbed to break bonds = (2 x 436) + (1 x 496) = 1368 kJ
Energy released to form bonds = (4 x 463) = 1852 kJ
Hence, ∆ H = Energy absorbed – Energy released
= (1368 – 1852) kJ = - 484 kJ
Since ∆H is negative, the overall reaction is exothermic.
Summary
Exothermic reaction Endothermic reaction
Heat energy is given out to the Heat energy is absorbed from the
surroundings. surroundings.
∆H is negative. ∆H is positive.
More heat is given out in making More heat is absorbed in breaking bonds
bonds than absorbed in breaking than given out in making bonds.
bonds.
Quick check
1. What is meant by (a) an exothermic reaction, (b) endothermic reaction?
2. What is meant by enthalpy change? What symbol is used to represent enthalpy
change?
3. What type of reaction is it when the enthalpy change ∆H is
(a) positive, (b) negative ?
4. Sodium hydroxide reacts with nitric acid according to the equation:
NaOH(aq) + HNO3(aq) 🡪 NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l) ∆H = - 57.3kJ
(a) Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic? Explain your
answer.
(b) What would be the heat evolved if 2 moles of sodium
hydroxide are completely neutralised ?
5. State whether the following are exothermic or endothermic reactions:
(a) decomposing zinc carbonate,
(b) reacting potassium with water,
(c) forming hydrogen atoms from hydrogen molecules,
(d) forming chlorine molecules from chlorine atoms,
(e) respiration,
(f) photosynthesis.
Solution
Solution to Quick check
1. (a) An exothermic reaction is a reaction which gives out heat energy to the
surroundings.
(b) An endothermic reaction is a reaction which absorbs heat energy from the
surroundings.
2. Enthalpy change is the amount of heat given out or taken in during a reaction. The
symbol used is ∆H.
3. (a) Endothermic (b) Exothermic
4. (a) The reaction is exothermic because ∆H is negative which means that heat
energy is lost from the reactants.
(b) Amount of heat evolved = 2 x 57.3 = 114.6 kJ
5. (a) decomposing zinc carbonate: endothermic
(b) reacting potassium with water: exothermic
(c) forming hydrogen atoms: endothermic
(d) forming chlorine molecules: exothermic
(e) respiration: exothermic
(f) photosynthesis: endothermic
Return
CALCULATING ENERGY CHANGES
If the change in temperature that occurs during the reaction is
measured the HEAT CHANGE known as the HEAT OF THE
REACTION can be determined using the formula below. It can
also be represented by the symbol q.
WHERE:
∆H is the energy transferred/heat change/heat of reaction in joules (J)
m is the mass of the solution in grams (g)
c is the specific heat capacity in joules per gram per ⁰C (J/g/⁰C)
∆T is the change in temperature
The SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY is the quantity of heat
energy required to raise the temperature of 1g of a
substance by 1⁰C.
To determine the HEAT OF REACTION:
carry out reaction in an insulated container called a calorimeter
Measure the temperature of the reaction before mixing
Measure the maximum or minimum TEMPERATURE reached
when the reactants are mixed
Determine the TEMPERATURE CHANGED.
THREE ASSUMPTIONS are made in calculating the
HEAT OF A REACTION
In using the equation we make the following assumptions:
The solution has the same
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY 4.2 J/g/⁰C
as WATER
The DENSITY of dilute
solution is the same as that
of WATER
The CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE, ∆T,
assumes that there is NO HEAT
LOSSESS to the SURROUNDINGS
DETERMINING HEAT OF SOLUTION
The HEAT OF SOLUTION is the HEAT CHANGE when 1mol of solute
dissolved in such a volume of solvent that FURTHER DILUTION by
the solvent produce no further HEAT CHANGE
When a solid dissolves in a solvent:
BONDS BREAK between the solute particles; IONIC
BONDS between ions break in a compound and
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES between molecules break in
covalent compounds. This ABSORBS energy from the
surroundings
INTERMOLECULAR FORCES between the solvent
molecules also BREAK. This ABSORBS energy from
the surroundings
Attraction from between the ions or the molecules of the
solute and molecules in the solvent a process called
SALVATION. This RELEASES energy in the surroundings.
The reaction is EXOTHERMIC if the ENERGY ABSORBED to
BREAK the bonds in the solute and the solvent is LESS than the
ENERGY RELEASED during SALVATION.
The reaction is ENDOTHERMIC if the ENERGY ABSORBED to
BREAK the bonds in the solute and the solvent is GREATER than
the ENERGY RELEASED during SALVATION.
When determining the HEAT OF SOLUTION the INITIAL
temperature of the water and the MAXIMUM or MINIMUM
temperature of the solution must be measured.
The TEMPERATURE INCREASE or DECREASE and the
NUMBER OF MOLES of the solute that dissolved must be
calculated.
EXAMPLE 1
DETERMINING HEAT OF NEUTRALISATION
The HEAT OF NEUTRALIZATION is the HEAT
CHANGE when 1mol of water is produced in a
neutralization reaction between an ALKALI and an
ACID
When determining the heat of neutralization:
Measure the TEMPERATURE of both solutions used
Use it to determine the AVERAGE INITIAL temperature
Measure the maximum temperature of the solution after mixing
Calculate the temperature INCREASE
DETERMINE the number of moles of water made in the reaction.
EXAMPLE 1
TRY THESE
To learn more about energy changes in
Chemical Reactions, Click on the links below!
1. http://www.ausetute.com.au/enthchan.html
2. http://www.avogadro.co.uk/h_and_s/enthalpy.htm
