Enthalpy

1. When a bath bomb is placed in water, it dissolves and effervesces vigorously. The
effervescence is due to the reaction between sodium hydrogencarbonate and citric acid,
which produces the gas carbon dioxide.

A bath bomb was placed into a large bowl of water, whilst the temperature of the water was
measured at regular intervals. The results are shown in the table below.

After After After

Initial
10 s 20 s 30 s
Temperature
21 18 16 15
(C)

(a) Classify this reaction as endothermic or exothermic. (1 mark)

(b) Use the Law of Conservation of Energy to explain what caused the observed temperature
change. (3 marks)

(c) Describe how the processes of bond breaking and bond making relate to the sign of the
enthalpy change in this reaction. (4 marks)
2. Cobalt metal can react with chlorine gas to produce cobalt chloride:

Co(s) + Cl2 (g) → CoCl2 (s) ∆H = -312 kJ

(a) Rewrite the equation with the energy as a term in the equation.
(b) Draw an energy profile diagram for this reaction.
(c) Calculate the amount of energy released when 275g of cobalt react.

3. The equation for the combustion of biodiesel is shown below.

C18H36O2(l) + 26 O2(g) → 18 CO2(g) + 18 H2O(l) + 10946 kJ

(a) If a sample of biodiesel was combusted and 7.045 tonnes of CO2(g) was released into the
atmosphere;

Calculate the mass of biodiesel that would have been consumed. Express your answer to the
appropriate number of significant figures. (5 marks)

(b) Calculate the amount of energy released. (2 marks)

 4. Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white, crystalline solid, often used in mining explosives.
Unfortunately, this compound has also been the cause of several of the worst industrial
accidents that have occurred over the past few decades.

At high temperatures, ammonium nitrate can decompose violently, producing a rapid

release of gases that cause an explosion. This process can be represented by the following
chemical equation;

NH4NO3(s) → N2O(g) + 2 H2O(g) + 36 kJ

(a) Classify this reaction as an endothermic or exothermic reaction, and state whether the value
of DH is positive or negative. (2 marks)

Circle the correct answer

The reaction is endothermic exothermic

The value of DH is positive negative

(b) Compare the energy associated with the bond breaking and bond making processes involved
in this reaction. (2 marks)

The ‘TNT equivalent’ is used to express the amount of energy released in an explosion. For example,
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 had a TNT equivalent rating of 10 tonnes. TNT equivalent is
defined as the amount of energy released by 1 metric tonne of TNT;

1 metric tonne TNT equivalent = 4.184 gigajoules (1 GJ = 106 kJ)

One of the worst industrial accidents on record involved the explosion of 2750 tonnes of ammonium
nitrate.

(c) Calculate the amount of energy released by the explosion and state this value in terms of
‘tonnes of TNT equivalent’. (5 marks)
 5. If phosphoric acid is decomposed into its constituent elements, energy is absorbed:

2H3PO4(l) → 3H2(g) + 2P(s) + 4O2(g)

(a) When 486 g of phosphoric acid reacts, 6306 kJ of energy is required. Calculate change in
enthalpy for the reaction in kJ.mol-1.
(b) Write a thermochemical equation for the reaction.
(c) Draw an energy profile diagram.

6. When molten sodium metal, Na(l), is placed in a flask filled with chlorine gas, Cl2(g), a rapid
reaction takes place. A large amount of heat and light energy is generated, as a white ionic
solid is formed.

metal spoon

flask
Na(l)

Cl2(g)

When 4.81 g of sodium metal reacts in the presence of excess chlorine gas, 86.0 kJ of energy is
produced.

(a) Calculate the value of the enthalpy change for this process, and then write a balanced
thermochemical equation for this reaction, incorporating this value.
(7 marks)