Thermochemical equations are

useful in determining the

enthalpies of reaction
• A chemical equation that
shows the value and direction
of heat involved in a reaction
• Indicates physical state of the
reactants and products
involved in the reaction
Amount of heat absorbed or
released by a chemical reaction at
constant atmospheric pressure
 Enthalpy of a Reaction (∆H)
The difference between the enthalpy of the
products and the reactants

∆H = H products - H reactants
Remember!

• When ∆H is positive, the

chemical reaction is
endothermic.
• When ∆H is negative, the
chemical reaction is exothermic.
Example
Combustion of methane

CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O ∆H = - 890.4 kJ

means that 890.4 kJ of heat is released

Enthalpy is also an extensive property
which means that its magnitude is
proportional to the amount of reactants
and products in the chemical reaction

Example: If the amount of reactants and

products is multiplied by 2, the value of
enthalpy is also multiplied by 2.
Example
Original equation:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O ∆H = - 890.4 kJ
Multiplied by 2:
2CH4 + 4O2 → 2CO2 + 4H2O ∆H = - 1 780.8 kJ
Multiplied by ½:
½CH4 + O2 → ½CO2 + H2O ∆H = - 445.2 kJ
 Standard Molar Enthalpy of
Formation (∆Hof)
Change in enthalpy when the compound is
formed from its elements under standard
conditions (1 atm, 25o C)
∆Hof = 0 under standard conditions
 Standard Enthalpy of a Reaction
(∆Horxn)
Calculated by subtracting the sum (Σ) of the
enthalpies of formation of the products and
the sum of the enthalpies of formation of the
reactants
∆Hof = 0 under standard conditions
Formula:
∆Horxn = Σ ∆Hof (products) - Σ ∆Hof (reactants)
Example
Consider the combustion of ethanol, C2H5OH to
produce carbon dioxide and water
C2H5OH(l) + 3O2(g) → 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(g)
∆Horxn = Σ ∆Hof (products) - Σ ∆Hof (reactants)
Σ∆Horxn = [2∆Hof (CO2,g) + 3∆Hof (H2O,g)]
– [∆Hof (C2H5OH,l ) + 3∆Hof (O2,g)]
= [2(-393.5 kJ) + 3(-241.8 kJ)]
- [(-277.7 kJ) + 3(0)]
= - 1 234.7 kJ
heat is released
∆Hof of Some Common Substances
Specific Heat Specific Heat
Substance ∆Hof (kJ/mol) Substance ∆Hof (kJ/mol)
C (graphite) 0 H2O(l) -285.8
CO(g) -110.5 N2(g) 0
CO2 (g) -393.5 NaCl(s) -411.2
C2H5OH(l) -277.7 NH3(g) -46.3
CaCO3(s) - 1 206.9 NO(g) 90.29
CaO(s) -635.6 NO2(g) 33.85
Fe2O3(s) -824.2 N2O(g) 81.56
H2O(g) -241.8 O2(g) 0
Sample
Using the standard molar enthalpies of
formation given, calculate the standard
enthalpy of reaction for the combustion of
propane (C3H8) into CO2 and H2O.
C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) → 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)

Substance C3H8(g) O2(g) CO2(g) H2O(g)

∆Hof
-104.0 0 -393.5 -241.8
(kJ/mol)
Solution
∆Horxn = Σ ∆Hof (products) - Σ ∆Hof (reactants)
Σ∆Horxn = [3∆Hof (CO2,g) + 4∆Hof (H2O,g)] -
[∆Hof (C3H8,g) + 5∆Hof (O2,g)]
= [3(-393.5 kJ) + 4(-241.8 kJ)] –
[(-104.0 kJ) + 5(0)]
= - 2 043.7 kJ
 Another way to calculate ∆H
• Used series of steps of reactions
• Summarized by Hess’s law
- states that the enthalpy of a sum of a
series of reactions is equal to the sum of
the enthalpies of those two reactions
The following rules are considered:
• Enthalpy is an extensive property; it depends
on the amount of reactants and products
• The ∆H for a forward reaction is equal in
magnitude but opposite in sign to its reverse
reaction
• The ∆H for a reaction is the same whether it
occurs in one step or in a series of steps
Sample
The thermochemical equation for the
incomplete combustion of C into CO is
represented as
2C(s) + O2(g) → 2CO(g)
Compute for the ∆H of the reaction if the overall
process above can occur in 2 steps whose
thermochemical equations are given below:
(1) C(s) + O2(g) → CO2 (g) ∆H = -393.5 kJ
(2) 2CO(g) + O2(g) → 2CO2(g) ∆H = -566.0 kJ
Solution
For the first equation, multiply by 2
[C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) ∆H = -393.5 kJ] x 2
2C(s) + 2O2(g) → 2CO2 (g) ∆H = -787.0 kJ
For the second equation, reverse
2CO2(g) → 2CO(g) + O2(g) ∆H = 566.0 kJ
Using Hess’s law,
2C(s) + 2O2(g) → 2CO2 (g) ∆H = -787.0 kJ
2CO2(g) → 2CO(g) + O2(g) ∆H = 566.0 kJ
2C(s) + O2(g) → 2CO(g) ∆H = -221.0 kJ
Practice
1. Write the balanced equation for the
production of the brown NO2 gas from N and
O gases. Calculate the enthalpy of the
reaction if the process occurs in the
sequence of reactions given below:
N2(g) + N2(g) → 2NO(g) ∆H = 180 kJ
2NO2(g) → 2NO(g) + O2(g) ∆H = 112 kJ
2. Methylhydrazine, N2H3CH3 is a common liquid
propellant used in rocket fuels. Using the table
of standard molar enthalpies below, calculate
the ∆H0 for the reaction per mole of N2H3CH3.
4N2H3CH3(l) + 5N2O4(l) → 12H2O(g) + 9N2(g) + 4CO2(g)

Substance N2H3CH3(l) N2O4(l) CO2(g) H2O(g) N2(g)

∆Hof
54.14 9.66 -393.5 -241.8 0
(kJ/mol)