HESS’S

L AW
CHAPTER: THERMOCHEMISTRY
HESS’S LAW
• It states that value of ΔH is the same whether the
reaction takes place in 1 step or series of step.
Example:
Oxidation of Nitrogen to produce Nitrogen Dioxide
N2 (g) + 2O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g) ΔH1 = 68 kJ

Reaction can also be carried out in 2 steps:

N2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2NO (g) ΔH2 = 180 kJ
2NO (g) + O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g) ΔH3 = -112 kJ
N2 (g) + 2O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g) ΔH2+3 = 68 kJ
Characteristic of Enthalpy changes to use Hess’s Law
1) If a reaction is reversed, the sign of ΔH is also
reversed.
Ex.
N2 (g) + 2O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g) ΔH = 68 kJ
2NO2 (g) → N2 (g) + 2O2 (g) ΔH = - 68 kJ
2) The magnitude of ΔH is directly proportional to
quantities of reactants & products in reaction. If
coefficients in balanced reaction are multiplied by an
integer, value of ΔH is multiplied by same integer.
Ex.
N2 (g) + 2O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g) ΔH = 68 kJ
2N2 (g) + 4O2 (g) → 4NO2 (g) (2)ΔH = 68 kJ = 136 kJ
 Sample Problem:
1) Two forms of carbon are graphite and diamond. Using enthalpies
of combustion for Graphite (-394 kJ/mol) and Diamond (-396
kJ/mol). Calculate the ΔH for conversion of graphite to diamond.
Cgraphite (s) → Cdiamond (s)
Combustion reactions are:
Cgraphite (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = -394 kJ
Cdiamond (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = -396 kJ
Solution:
Cgraphite (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = -394 kJ
CO2 (g) → Cdiamond (s) + O2 (g) ΔH = +396 kJ
Cgraphite (s) → Cdiamond (s) ΔH = 2 kJ
 Sample Problem:
2) Diborane (B2H6) is highly reactive boron hydride that
was once considered as a possible rocket fuel for US
Space program. Calculate ΔH for synthesis of diborane
from its elements, according to:
2 B (s) + 3H2 (g) → B2H6 (g)
Combustion reactions are:
2 B (s) + 3/2 O2 (g) → B2O3 (s) ΔH = - 1,273 kJ
B2H6 (g) + 3 O2 (g) → B2O3 + 3 H2O (g) ΔH = - 2,035 kJ
H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ΔH = - 286 kJ
H2O (l) → H2O (g) ΔH = 44 kJ
 2 B (s) + 3H2 (g) → B2H6 (g)
Combustion reactions are:
2 B (s) + 3/2 O2 (g) → B2O3 (s) ΔH = - 1,273 kJ
B2H6 (g) + 3 O2 (g) → B2O3 (s) + 3 H2O (g) ΔH = - 2,035 kJ
H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ΔH = - 286 kJ
H2O (l) → H2O (g) ΔH = 44 kJ
Solution:
2 B (s) + 3/2 O2 (g) → B2O3 (s) ΔH = - 1,273 kJ
B2O3 (s) + 3 H2O (g) → B2H6 (g) + 3 O2 (g) ΔH = + 2,035 kJ
2 B (s) + 3 H2O (g) → B2H6 (g) + 3/2 O2 (g) ΔH = 762 kJ
3H2 (g) + 3/2 O2 (g) → 3H2O (l) ΔH = - 858 kJ
2 B (s) + 3 H2O (g) + 3H2 (g) → B2H6 (g) + 3H2O (l) ΔH = - 96 kJ

3H2O (l) → 3H2O (g) ΔH = 132 kJ

2 B (s) + 3H2 (g) → B2H6 (g) ΔH = 36 kJ
1. Given the following thermochemical equation and
corresponding enthalpy change for each reaction,
calculate Heat of combustion of Acetylene gas,
C2H2.
C2H2 (g) + 2½ O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Reaction are:
a) 2C (graphite) + H2 (g) → C2H2 (g) ΔH = + 226.7 kJ
b) C (graphite) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = - 393.5 kJ
c) H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ΔH = -285.8 kJ
 C2H2 (g) + 2½ O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
Reaction are:
a) 2C (graphite) + H2 (g) → C2H2 (g) ΔH = + 226.7 kJ
b) C (graphite) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = - 393.5 kJ
c) H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ΔH = -285.8 kJ
Solution:
C2H2 (g) → 2C (graphite) + H2 (g) ΔH = - 226.7 kJ
2C (graphite) + 2 O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) ΔH = - 787 kJ
H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ΔH = -285.8 kJ

C2H2 (g) + 2½ O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + H2O (l) ΔH = -1,299.5 kJ

2) Calculate the enthalpy change for the following
chemical reaction:
CS2 (l) + 3 O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2SO2 (g)

Reaction are:
a) C(s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = - 393.5 kJ
b) S (s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g) ΔH = - 296.8 kJ
c) C (s) + 2S (s) → CS2 (l) ΔH = + 87.9 kJ
 CS2 (l) + 3 O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2SO2 (g)
Reaction are:
a) C(s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = - 393.5 kJ
b) S (s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g) ΔH = - 296.8 kJ
c) C (s) + 2S (s) → CS2 (l) ΔH = + 87.9 kJ
Solution:
C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ΔH = - 393.5 kJ
2S (s) + 2O2 (g) → 2SO2 (g) ΔH = - 593.6 kJ
CS2 (l) → C (s) + 2S (s) ΔH = - 87.9 kJ

CS2 (l) + 3 O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2SO2 (g) ΔH = -1,075 kJ

3) Calculate the value of ΔH° for the ff reaction
P4O10 (s) + 6PCl5 (g) → 10Cl3PO (g)

Using the following four equations:

a) P4 (s)+ 6Cl2 (g) → 4PCl3 (g) ΔH° = - 1225.6 kJ

b) P4 (s)+ 5O2 (g) → P4O10 (s) ΔH° = - 2967.3 kJ
c) PCl3 (g) + Cl2 (g) → PCl5 (g) ΔH° = -84.2 kJ
d) PCl3 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → Cl3PO (g) ΔH° = -285.7 kJ
 P4O10 (s) + 6PCl5 (g) → 10Cl3PO (g)
a) P4 (s)+ 6Cl2 (g) → 4PCl3 (g) ΔH° = - 1225.6 kJ
b) P4 (s)+ 5O2 (g) → P4O10 (s) ΔH° = - 2967.3 kJ
c) PCl3 (g) + Cl2 (g) → PCl5 (g) ΔH° = -84.2 kJ
d) PCl3 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → Cl3PO (g) ΔH° = -285.7 kJ
Solution:
P4 (s) + 6Cl2 (g) → 4PCl3 (g) ΔH° = - 1225.6 kJ
P4O10 (s) → P4 (s) + 5O2 (g) ΔH° = + 2967.3 kJ
P4O10 (s) + 6Cl2 (g) → 4PCl3 (g) + 5O2 (g) ΔH° = + 1741.7 kJ
6PCl5 (g) → 6PCl3 (g) + 6Cl2 (g) ΔH° = 505.2 kJ
P4O10 (s) + 6PCl5 (g) → 10PCl3 (g) + 5O2 (g) ΔH° = 2246.9 kJ
10PCl3 (g) + 5 O2 (g) → 10Cl3PO (g) ΔH° = -2857 kJ
P4O10 (s) + 6PCl5 (g) → 10Cl3PO (g) ΔH = - 610.1 kJ
4) Determine the ΔH for the reaction
4CO + 8H2 → 3CH4 + CO2 + 2H2O
Given the following data:

a) C + ½ O2 → CO ΔH = - 110.5 kJ
b) CO + ½ O2 → CO2 ΔH = - 282.9 kJ
c) H2 + ½ O2 → H2O ΔH = -285.8
kJ
d) C + 2H2 → CH4 ΔH = -74.8 kJ
e) CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O ΔH = -890.3 kJ
 4CO + 8H2 → 3CH4 + CO2 + 2H2O
a) C + ½ O2 → CO ΔH = - 110.5 kJ
b) CO + ½ O2 → CO2 ΔH = - 282.9 kJ
c) H2 + ½ O2 → H2O ΔH = -285.8 kJ
d) C + 2H2 → CH4 ΔH = -74.8 kJ
e) CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O ΔH = -890.3 kJ
Solution:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O ΔH = - 890.3 kJ
4C + 8H2 → 4 CH4 ΔH = - 299.2 kJ
4CO → 4C + 2 O2 ΔH = 442 kJ

4CO + 8H2 → 3CH4 + CO2 + 2H2O ΔH = - 747.5 kJ