Using bond enthalpies to calculate the change in enthalpy of reactions

In the article on ‘Measuring the change in enthalpy of a reaction (Part 2)’, the change in enthalpy of a reaction is determined via calorimetry. Enthalpy change of reactions can also be estimated using bond enthalpy data.

Rewriting eq2 in terms of enthalpy,

\Delta H=\Delta H_{bf}+\Delta H_{bb}\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; 6

where ΔH is the change in enthalpy of the reaction, ΔHbf is the bond enthalpy of formation (ΔHbf < 0) and ΔHbb is the bond enthalpy of breaking (ΔHbb > 0).

Since both ΔHbb and ΔHbf are taken from the same bond enthalpy data set, which has all numbers quoted as positive values, eq6 becomes

\Delta H=\left|\Delta H_{bb} \right |-\left | \Delta H_{bf} \right |\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; 7

or to be specific, if there are multiple bonds broken and multiple bonds formed:

\Delta H=\sum _i \left |\Delta H_{bb} \right |_i-\sum _j\left | \Delta H_{bf} \right |_j\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; 8

In other words,

The change in enthalpy of a reaction is the difference between the sum of the magnitude of bond enthalpies of all bonds broken and the sum of the magnitude of bond enthalpies of all bonds formed.

 

Question

With reference to the bond enthalpy data in the previous article,

a) what is the change in enthalpy for the reaction:

C(g)+4H(g)\rightarrow CH_4(g)

b) what is the change in enthalpy for the hydrogenation of propene?

CH_3CH=CH_2(g)+H_2(g)\rightarrow C_3H_8(g)

Answer

a) Using eq8, ΔH = 0 – (416 x 4) = -1664 kJmol-1.

b) 1 mole of π (CC) bond and one mole of HH bond are broken and two moles of CH bonds are formed. Using the bond enthalpy data, the bond enthalpy of one mole of π (CC) bond can be estimated from the difference between one mole of C = C bond and one mole of σ (CC) bond. Thus, using eq8,

\Delta H=(612-348+435)-(416\times 2)=-133\: kJmol^{-1}

 

Previous article: Bond enthalpy
Content page of basic chemical energetics
Content page of Basic chemistry
Main content page

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *