5.2 HEAT CHANGE IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS 1. Heat change occurs in most of the chemical reactions. 2.

All occurring chemical reactions involve energy transformation. 3. When a chemical reaction occurs, heat energy is absorbed or released. 4. Heat energy is absorbed to break the bond in a compound. 5. Conversely, heat energy is released when the bond is formed. 6. Chemical reactions can be classified into two types, i.e. exothermic and endothermic reactions.

Definition Reactant

Energy content

ENDOTHERMIC REACTION Reaction in which heat Reaction in which heat energy is released to the energy is absorbed surrounding. from surrounding. When this reaction When this reaction occurs, the reactant will occurs, the reactant lose heat to the will gain heat from the surroundings. surroundings. The total energy content The total energy of the product is less content of the product than the total energy is more than the total content of the reactants. energy content of the The energy transfer can reactant. The energy be shown in an energy transfer can be shown level diagram. in an energy level diagram. Energy level
Energy level Reactant Product Reactant Product

EXOTHERMIC REACTION

ENDOTHERMIC REACTION Surrounding Since heat energy is Since heat energy is temperature released from the absorbed by the reactant to the reactant from the surroundings, the surroundings, the surrounding temperature surrounding is raised. temperature is lowered. Contents in The contents in the The contents in the container container become hot. container become cool. As a result, the As a result, the container also feels hot container also feels when touched or shows cool when touched or a higher temperature shows a lower when measured with a temperature when thermometer. measured with a thermometer.
Table 5.2 : comparison between exothermic and endothermic reactions

EXOTHERMIC REACTION

 CHEMICAL REACTION IN INDUSTRY 1. Chemical reactions in industry usually occur under optimum conditions so that the time of reaction is very short and cost involved is minimal. 2. Two important chemical processes in industry are: a. Haber process which produces ammonia b. Contact process which produces sulphuric acid 3. In the Haber process, ammonia is produced from the mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen.
Nitrogen + hydrogen ammonia

Nitrogen

Temperature: 450 0C Pressure : 200 atm Mixture of nitrogen Catalyst: iron

Hydrogen

And oxygen is Compressed

Ammonia gas

Ammonia (liquid) Figure 5.6 Haber process

4. Haber process is a reversible reaction. 5. When ammonia is produced, bond formation occurs between the atoms of nitrogen and hydrogen. A lot of heat is released to the surroundings. 6. In contact process, sulphuric acid is produced through three stages. 7. In the first stage, sulphur is burnt in the air to produced sulphur dioxide gas.
Sulphur + Oxygen sulphur dioxide

8. Heat is released to form the bond when sulphur dioxide is produced. 9. In second stage, sulphur dioxide gas react with oxygen to form sulphur trioxide gas at temperature of 400-5000C and pressure of 1 atmosphere. Vanadium (V) oxide is used as a catalyst in this reaction.
Sulphur dioxide + Oxygen sulphur trioxide

10. This reaction is reversible. 11. Heat is released to form the bond when sulphur trioxide is produced. 12. At the third stage, the reaction which occurs involve two steps. The reaction at both steps releases heat to form the chemical bonds when oleum and sulphuric acid are produced.
Sulphur trioxide + concentrated sulphuric acid Oleum + water sulphuric acid oleum

13. Just like at the second stage, optimum conditions are maintained at this stage.
Temperature: 400 500 C Pressure: 1 atm Catalyst: vanadium(V) oxide Sulphur dioxide Oxygen Sulphur trioxide dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid Sulphur trioxide diluted with water Sulphur trioxide Figure 5.7: Contact process
o

Sulphur