thermochemistrychemistry chem 213wronispc.chem.mcgill.ca/ronis/chem213/thermochemistry.pdf ·...

THERMOCHEMISTRY Chemistry CHEM 213W

David Ronis

McGill University

1. Enthalpy Calculations: Chemical Reactions and Hess’ Law

The enthalpy change for a process,∆H , is equal to the heat absorbed by the system if thatprocess is done under constant pressure conditions (and assuming that only P-V work is possi-ble). Sincethe enthalpy of a system, H = E + PV, is a state function, we can systematizeenthalpy calculations by considering a path whereby the compounds first turn into their con-stituent elements in their standard states (by convention at 25oC and 1 atm pressure) and thenrecombine to form the products. The enthalpy change in the latter step is just the enthalpy of for-mation of the products and the former is the enthalpy of destruction (i.e., the negative of theenthalpy of formation) of the reactants. Hence,

∆H = Σ ∆H0

f (products) − ∆H0f (reactants)

. (1)

Since we are interested in calculating a difference, the absolute enthalpy of the elements intheir standard states is unimportant [it cancels out of Eq. (1)], and we adopt the convention thatthe enthalpy of formation of an element in its standard state is zero.

Consider the following example (reduction of iron oxide):

Fe2O3(s) + 3H2(g)25 oC, 1 atm

→ 2Fe(s) + 3H2O(l).

A table of thermochemical data gives:

Enthalpies of Formation at 1 atm and 25 C

Compound ∆H0f (kJ/mole)

Fe2O3(s) -824.2H2(g) 0.0Fe(s) 0.0H2O(l) -285.830

By using these in Eq. (1), we find that

∆H = [3(−285. 830)− (−824. 2)]kJ/mole

= −33. 29kJ/mole.

Winter Term 2001-2002

Thermochemistry -2- Chemistry CHEM 213W

Note that the calculated enthalpy change depends on how the reaction was written.For example,if we wrote

1

2Fe2O3(s) +

3

2H2(g)

25 oC, 1 atm→ Fe(s) +

3

2H2O(l),

then∆H = −16. 65kJ/mole.

2. Measuring ∆H0f

There are a number of ways in which to measure the enthalpy of formation of a compound;here are two. Themost obvious is to simply carry out the formation reaction from the con-stituent elements in their standard states in a constant pressure calorimeter (recall that∆H = Q p).

For example, consider the combustion of graphite to form carbon dioxide

C(graphite) + O2(g)25 oC, 1 atm

→ CO2(g).

The heat released in this reaction is−∆H0f (CO2), since the standard enthalpy of formation of the

reactants is zero.

For this method to work, two conditions must be met:1) thereaction goes to completionand 2) only one product is formed. Thus, the reaction

C(graphite) + 2H2(g)25 oC, 1 atm

→ CH4(g)

is not suitable for this method since it doesn’t readily go to completion and we get a complicatedmixture of hydrocarbons.

In order to get around this, note that it is often possible to burn something to completion(and measure∆Hcombustion, the heat released). Thus consider

CH4(g) + 2O225 oC, 1 atm

→ CO2(g) + 2H2O(l).

Equation (1) gives

∆Hcombustion = ∆H0f (CO2(g)) + 2∆H0

f (H2O(l)) − ∆H0f (CH4(g)).

The standard enthalpies of formation of carbon dioxide and water can be measured using the firstmethod; hence, once we measure the heat of combustion, the only unknown is the standardenthalpy of formation of methane (CH4) and a little algebra gives:

∆H0f (CH4(g)) = ∆H0

f (CO2(g)) + 2∆H0f (H2O(l)) − ∆Hcombustion.

= [−398. 51+ 2(−285. 83)− (−890. 36)]kJ/mole

= −74. 81kJ/mole.

In general, in order to measure the enthalpy of formation, all you need to to is find anyreaction where all but one of the standard enthalpies of formation are known and where the reac-tion goes to completion. These sorts of manipulations are valid because the enthalpy is a statefunction, and are referred to as Hess’s law. Also note that the same arguments could be made forthe energy changes (under constant volume conditions).



3. Reactions at Different Temperatures: Kirchoff ’s Law

What happens if the temperature at which you perform the reaction (either at constant P orV) is different than that of your table of enthalpies of formation. Since the enthalpy is a statefunction, an alternate path can be found whereby the enthalpy change, calculated using the tem-perature of your table, can be used. Consider the constant pressure case depicted below

Reactants Products

Reactants Products

I II

(T1

(T )0

)

The enthalpy change for the reaction atT1 is equal to the enthalpy change atT0 plus the enthalpychange for paths 1 and 2.However, on 1 or 2, only the constant pressure heating or cooling ofthe reactants or products is performed (i.e., no chemical reaction takes place). Since the constantpressure heat capacity,CP was defined as

CP ≡

∂H

∂TP,N

,

the incremental heat absorbed by the system on 1 or 2 isCP dT . Integrating gives:

∆H1 =T0

T1

∫ CP(reactants)dT = −T1

T0

∫ CP(reactants)dT

and

∆H2 =T1

T0

∫ CP(products)dT .

Adding the contributions together gives

∆H(T1) = ∆H(T0) +T1

T0

∫ CP(products) − CP(reactants)

.

This is known as Kirchoff’s law. What changes must be made for the energy?

Consider our example of the reduction ofFe2O3. What is the enthalpy change at 358K?We will assume that the heat capacities are constant over the temperature range 298 - 358 K.



Constant Pressure Heat Capacities at 1 atm and 25 C

Compound CP (J/mole/K)

Fe2O3(s) 103.8H2(g) 28.8Fe(s) 25.1H2O(l) 75.3

Note that elements in their standard states donot have zero heat capacities. Using the data in thetable, and the result of our earlier calculation gives

∆Hrxn(358K ) = −33. 29+[2(25. 1)+ 3(75. 3)− 103. 8− 3(28. 8)][358− 298]

1000

= −28. 1kJ/mole.

Note that no change in phase occurred when we cooled (heated) the reactants (products).What changes would have to be made if the reaction was carried out at 400 K?

4. Bond Energies

A useful, albeit very approximate, way to calculate enthalpy changes in chemical reactionsis through the concept of bond energies. Considerthe following reaction

CH4 → CH3 + H ;

i.e., one C-H bond is broken. Experimentally, ∆H for this reaction is 102 kcal/mole.Similarly,∆H = 96 kcal/mole for

C2H6 → C2H5 + H .

A survey of such reactions will show that the heat required to break a single C-H bond is in therange 96-102 kcal/mole.We can thus assign 98 kcal/mole as an average bond energy for the C-Hbond. Similartends are observed in the bond strength of other types of bonds, and the results aresummarized in the following table



Av erage Bond Energies

Energy Energy(kcal/mole) (kcal/mole)

Bond Bond

H-H 103 C-H 98C-C 80 N-H 92C=C 145 O-H 109

C ≡ C 198 Cl-H 102N-N 37 Br-H 87

N ≡ N 225 I-H 71O-O 34 C-Cl 78O=O 117 C-N 66Cl-Cl 57 C ≡ N 210Br-Br 45 C-O 79

I-I 35 C=O 173

How can this be used? Consider the hydrogenation of ethlyene:

H2C = CH2 + H − H → H3C − CH3.

At the molecular level, we break one H-H and one C=C bond, and form one C-C and two C-Hbonds. Theenergy change is just the net energy left in the molecule in such a process.From thetable, the bond breaking steps take 145+103=248 kcal/mole. The bond formation will give off80+2(98)=276 kcal/mole.Hence the net energy change in the system is 248-276 = -28kcal/mole. To get the enthalpy change, note that at constant pressure,

∆H = ∆E + P∆V .

For this reaction, all reactants and products are gases. If we assume that the gases are ideal, wecan compute∆V ; i.e.,

∆V =RT

P∆N .

Here∆N = −1 and thus

∆H = −28− 1. 9872× 10−3kcal/mole /K × 298K

= −28. 6kcal/mole.

(Note that here the difference between∆H and ∆E is relatively small). The correct answer is-32.7 kcal/mole. Thus while, the bond energy method is not exact it gives a reasonable estimate.The reason for the discrepancy is the assumption that the bond energy doesn’t depend on whatother bonds are present in the molecule--in general this is not true.

5. Some Manipulations Involving Thermodynamic Functions

5.1. The relationship between CP and CV

We know that

CV =

∂E

∂TN ,V



and that

CP =

∂H

∂TN ,P

.

How these two quantities are related is a good exercise in manipulating thermodynamic func-tions. SinceH=E+PV,

CP =

∂E

∂TN ,P

+ P

∂V

∂TN ,P

,

where the last derivative should be recognized asVα , whereα is the thermal expansion coeffi-cient,

α ≡1

V

∂V

∂TN ,P

.

If we view the energy as a function of N,V,T,

∂E

∂TN ,P

=

∂E

∂TN ,V

+

∂E

∂VN ,T

∂V

∂TN ,P

= CV + α V

∂E

∂VN ,T

.

Hence,

CP − CV =P +

∂E

∂VN ,T

α V

=VTα 2

β,

where

β ≡ −1

V

∂V

∂PT ,N

is the isothermal compressibility, and where the last equality will be proven later. The compres-sitility must be positive (i.e., things get smaller when squeezed) and this implies thatCP ≥ CV .For an ideal gas, Joule showed that the internal energy per mole did not depend on the volume.In this case,

CP − CV = α PV = R.

5.2. The Joule-Thompson Experiment

Consider the following adiabatic (i.e, Q=0) process, whereby a gas is squeezed through aporous, rigid plug



P1 P2

T1 T 2 211 2 P P V V

Porous Plug

Fig. 1. The Joule-Thompson Experiment

Since, by assumption, Q=0,

∆E = E(P2,V2) − E(P1,V1) = −W = P1V1 − P2V2.

By rearranging this expression we show that

E(P1,V1) + P1V1 = E(P2,V2) + P2V2;

i.e., the enthalpy, H is constant in the Joule-Thompson expansion.

In practice, large temperature changes can be obtained in this type of expansion (which canbe used in designing a refrigerator). The key parameter is the so-called Joule-Thompson coeffi-cient

µ JT ≡

∂T

∂PH ,N

. (2)

In order to expressµ JT in terms of more readily measurable quantities, note that

∂y

∂x f

= −

∂ f

∂xy

∂ f

∂yx

,

which is sometimes known as the "cyclic rule" or "implicit function differentiation." Itis provedby noting that

df =

∂ f

∂xy

dx +

∂ f

∂yx

dy,

setting df=0, and by solving for the ratio dy/dx.

By using the cyclic rule on Eq. (2), we find that

µ JT = −

∂H

∂PT ,N

∂H

∂TP,N



= −1

CP

∂H

∂PN ,T

= −V

CP

1 − β

P +

∂E

∂VN ,T

= −V

CP

1 −

βα V

(CP − CV )

= −V

C p[1 − α T ],

where the second to last equality follows when the definition of the enthalpy in terms of theenergy is used and the manipulations used in calculatingCP − CV are repeated.β is the isother-mal compressibility. Note that the Joule-Thompson coefficient vanishes for an ideal-gas.


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