HESS’S LAW

Content
I. Hess’s law statement

II. Explanation

III. Example of Hess’s law

IV. Application of Hess’s law

V. Numerical problem of Hess’s law

VI. Heat of formation

VII. Enthalpy of a reaction (ΔHRXN)

 Hess’s law
Hess' Law states that the heat evolved or absorbed in a
chemical process is the same whether the process takes
place in one or in several steps. This is also known as the
law of constant heat summation.
Hess’s law representative by :

∆H net =  ∆Hr

∆H= net change in enthalpy

∆H=sum change in enthalpy

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 Explanation
Let us suppose substance ‘A’ convert into ‘D’ directly
A → D, ∆H=Q kJ
Suppose a same change is brought about into different step
1) A → B ∆H1= Q1 KJ
2) B → C ∆H2=Q2 KJ
3) C → D ∆ H3=Q3 KJ

∆H= ∆H1 + ∆H2 + ∆H3 + ∆H4

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 EXAMPLE
ONE STEP PREPARATION:
Solid carbon is burnt in excess of oxygen.
C + O2 → CO2 , ∆H = -395.39 KJ

PREPARATION IN TWO STEPS:

STEP →1:solid carbon is burnt in limited supply of oxygen of
carbon monoxide,
C + ½ O2 → CO , ∆H1 = -111.7 KJ
step →2: carbon monoxide is then burnt in excess of oxygen to
form carbon dioxide ,
CO + ½ O2 → CO2 , ∆H2= -283.67 KJ
According to Hess’s law ,
∆H1 + ∆H2 = - 111.7 + (-283.6) = -395.39 KJ = ∆H

THUS Hess’s law is illustrated

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 Application of Hess’s
law
 Thermochemical equations can be added subtracted or
multiplied like ordinary algebraic equations.

 Hess's law is useful to calculate heats of many reactions

which do not take place directly.

 It is useful to find out heats of extremely slow reaction.

 It is useful to find out the heat of formation, neutralization,

etc.

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 Numerical problem
Q # calculate the enthalpy of formation of CO from given data
C + O2 → CO2 ∆H1 = -393.5 KJ →eq 1
CO + ½ 02 → CO2 ∆H2 = -283.0 KJ →eq 2
SOLUTION:
The Formation of CO is represented by following thermochemical eq.
C + ½ O2 → CO ,∆H =?
First reverse the equation (ii)
CO2 → CO + ½ O2 ,∆H2 =283.0KJ
Adding eq 1 and 2 by Hess’s law we get
C + ½ O2 → CO ∆H =∆H1 +∆H= -393.5 + 283.0
C + ½ O2 → CO ,∆H=-110.5KJ

ANS: Hence enthalpy formation of CO is -110.5 KJ mole-1

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 Heat of formation :
Heat of formation, also called standard heat of
formation, enthalpy of formation, or standard enthalpy of
formation, the amount of heat absorbed or evolved when one 
mole of a compound is formed from its constituent elements
element in their standard state.

The formation reaction is a constant pressure and constant

temperature process. 

 Its symbol is ΔfH⦵.

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 Example of heat of formation

Hydrogen and oxygen are stable in their elemental form,

so their enthalpy of formation is zero. However, an
amount of energy (241.5 kJ) is released per mole when
they combine to form steam.

H2 + 02 →H2O ∆H -245 KJ/mol

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 Enthalpy of a reaction (ΔHRXN)

The enthalpy of reaction (ΔHRXN) is the difference between the total 

enthalpy of the products of a reaction and the total enthalpy of the 
reactants.

 The S.I units of ΔHrxn are kilojoules per mole

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 Thanks!

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