IAL Edexcel Chemistry Unit 2 (WCH12):

Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes

and Alcohols (Part 1/5)
REALLYACADEMICS
Preface
● This series will be divided into 5 parts corresponding to the 5 topics in the 2018 specification
○ PART 1 - TOPIC 6: Energetics
○ PART 2 - TOPIC 7: Intermolecular Forces
○ PART 3 - TOPIC 8: Redox Chemistry and Groups 1, 2 and 7
○ PART 4 - TOPIC 9: Introduction to Kinetics and Equilibria
○ PART 5 - TOPIC 10: Organic Chemistry: Alcohols, Halogenoalkanes and Spectra
● This series will provide you with a means of last minute revision on [WCH12] IAL Edexcel
Chemistry Unit 2
● This series will aim to provide you with an revision in under 50 MINS
● All information here is a summary of the New Specification Book
● This series will not serve as a primary study material but as an adjunct to help you recall and
prepare as a last minute revision
● YOU CAN ALSO SUPPLEMENT THIS WITH MY OTHER VIDEOS ON FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS OF UNIT 2
Syllabus
1. Know that the enthalpy change, ∆H, is the heat energy change measured at constant pressure
and that standard conditions are 100 kPa and a specified temperature, usually 298 K
2. Know that, by convention, exothermic reactions have a negative enthalpy change and
endothermic reactions have a positive enthalpy change
3. Be able to construct and interpret enthalpy level diagrams, showing exothermic and
endothermic enthalpy changes
4. Know the definition of standard enthalpy change of:
a. Reaction, ∆rH
b. Formation, ∆fH
c. Combustion, ∆cH
d. Neutralisation, ∆neutH
e. Atomisation, ∆atH
5. Be able to use experimental data to calculate:
a. Energy transferred in a reaction recalling and using the expression: energy transferred (J) = mass (g) × specific
heat capacity (J g-1 °C-1) × temperature change (°C)
b. Enthalpy change of the reaction in kJ mol-1
6. Know Hess’s Law and be able to apply it to:
a. Constructing enthalpy cycles
b. Calculating enthalpy changes of reaction using data provided, or data selected from a table or obtained from
experiments
Syllabus
7. Be able to evaluate the results obtained from experiments and comment on
sources of error and uncertainty and any assumptions made in the experiments
8. Understand the terms ‘bond enthalpy’ and ‘mean bond enthalpy’, and be able to
use bond enthalpies to calculate enthalpy changes, understanding the limitations of
this method
9. Be able to calculate mean bond enthalpies from enthalpy changes of reaction
10. Understand that bond enthalpy data gives some indication about which bond will
break first in a reaction, how easy or difficult it is and therefore how rapidly a
reaction will take place at room temperature
1. Know that the enthalpy change, ΔH, is the heat energy
change measured at constant pressure and that standard
conditions are 100 kPa and a specified temperature,
usually 298 K
4. Know the definition of standard enthalpy change of:
a. Reaction, ΔrH
Chemical and Heat Energy
● The first law of thermodynamics states that, during a chemical reaction,
energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can be transferred into another
form.
● 2 important forms of energy are:
■ Chemical Energy
● Made of two components
○ Kinetic energy, which is a measure of the motion of the particles In a
substance
○ Potential energy, which is a measure of how strongly these particles
interact with one another
■ Heat Energy
Enthalpy and Enthalpy changes
● Enthalpy is a measure of the total energy of a system
● Enthalpy change (∆H) of a process is the heat energy that is transferred
between the system and the surroundings at constant pressure

Exothermic and Endothermic processes and reactions

● Two types of process can take place. These are:
○ Exothermic - where heat energy is transferred from the system to the surroundings
■ Always have a rise in surrounding temperature
○ Endothermic - where heat energy is transferred from the surroundings to the system
■ Always have a decrease in surrounding temperature
■ Need a continuous supply of heat
Examples of Exothermic and Endothermic reactions
Exothermic Endothermic

● Freezing water ● Melting ice

● Condensing water vapour
● Dissolving sodium hydroxide in water
● Reaction between dilute hydrochloric acid and
aqueous sodium hydroxide
● Combustion of petrol
● Evaporating water
● Dissolving ammonium nitrate in water
● Reaction between dilute ethanoic acid and
solid sodium hydrogencarbonate
● Photosynthesis

An example of an exothermic reaction:

An example of an endothermic reaction:

Standard Conditions
● The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
recommended that all enthalpy changes should be under standard
conditions of:
○ 100kPa pressure
○ 298K temperature
Standard Enthalpy Change of Reaction, ΔrH
● The enthalpy change which occurs when equation quantities of materials
react under standard conditions
● For example:
2. Know that, by convention, exothermic reactions have
a negative enthalpy change and endothermic reactions
have a positive enthalpy change
3. Be able to construct and interpret enthalpy level
diagrams, showing exothermic and endothermic
enthalpy changes
Enthalpy level diagrams
● It is a diagram that shows the relationship between the enthalpy of the reactants and the enthalpy of the
products in a chemical reaction
● In an exothermic reaction, the final enthalpy of the system is less than its initial enthalpy.
● In an endothermic reaction, the final enthalpy of the system is more than its initial enthalpy

● The change in enthalpy, ∆H, is given by:

○ ∆H = Hproducts - Hreactants
● For an exothermic reaction, Hreactants > Hproducts, so ∆H is negative
● For an endothermic reaction, Hreactants < Hproducts, so ∆H is positive
Example Question 1
1. Draw an enthalpy level diagram for the following reaction:

C(S) + O2(g) —> CO2(g) ∆H = -394kJ mol-1

Example Question 2
1. Draw an enthalpy level diagram for the following reaction:

C(s) + CO2(g) —> 2CO(g) ∆H = +172 kJ mol-1

Example Question 3
1. Draw an enthalpy level diagram for the following reaction:
Tips when drawing an enthalpy diagram
Formulae for both
reactants and
products with their
state symbols

Label the vertical axis

Values for ∆H should
be given, including
the correct sign
4. Know the definition of standard enthalpy change of:
b. Formation, ΔfH
c. Combustion, ΔcH
d. Neutralisation, ΔneutH
d. Atomisation, ΔatH
5. Be able to use experimental data to calculate:
a. Energy transferred in a reaction recalling and using the expression: energy transferred
(J) = mass (g) × specific heat capacity (J g-1 °C-1) × temperature change (°C)
b. Enthalpy change of the reaction in kJ mol-1
7. Be able to evaluate the results obtained from experiments and
comment on sources of error and uncertainty and any assumptions
made in the experiments
What is standard enthalpy change of combustion
● The standard enthalpy change of combustion is the enthalpy change
measured at standard condition, when one mole of a substance is
completely burned in oxygen.
● Two common ways of writing the combustion of hydrogen are:
Experimental determination of enthalpy change of
combustion of a liquid
● To find the enthalpy change of combustion of a
liquid, a known mass of the liquid is burned to
heat up the surrounding water.
● The following procedure is used:
○ A spirit burner containing the liquid being tested is
weighed.
○ A known volume of water is added to a copper can
○ The temperature of the water is measured
○ The burner is lit
○ The mixture is constantly stirred with the thermometer
○ When the temperature of the water has reached
approximately 20 oC above its initial temperature, the
flame is extinguished and the burner is immediately
reweighed.
○ The final temperature is measured
● At the right is a typical set up of the experimental
Example: Enthalpy change for combustion of ethanol (C2H5OH)
● Stage 1: Calculate the heat energy, Q, transferred
to the water
○ m is 100g because the density of water is 1.00 g cm-3 and
density = m/v
○ Using the equation: Q=mc∆T we find the energy
○ Q = 100g x 4.18J g-1 K-1 x +24.5 K Volume of 100 cm3
○ Q = +10.24 kJ water heated
● Stage 2: Calculate the amount, n, of ethanol
burned Mass of
ethanol burned
0.420 g

Temperature +24.5 oC
● Stage 3: Calculate ∆H, using the equation change, ∆H
Evaluating sources of error and assumptions made in the
experiments
● Possible errors include:
○ Some of the heat energy produced in burning is transferred to the air and not the water
○ Some of the ethanol may not burn completely to form carbon dioxide and water.
(Incomplete burning produces less heat energy)
○ Some of the heat energy produced in burning is transferred to the copper can and not to
the water
○ The conditions are not standard.
○ The experiment takes a long time. This means that not all of the heat energy transferred
from the water to the surroundings is compensated for.
Standard enthalpy change of neutralisation
● The standard enthalpy change of neutralisation is the enthalpy change
measured at standard conditions, when one mole of water is produced by
the neutralisation of an acid with an alkali.
● The following equation represents the standard enthalpy change of
neutralisation of hydrochloric acid:
Experimental determination of enthalpy change of
neutralisation
● Procedures
○ Wear safety glasses and a lab coat
○ Using a pipette fitted with a safety filler, place
25.0cm3 of 1.00 mol dm-3 acid into an expanded
polystyrene cup.
○ Measure the temperature of the acid
○ Using a pipette fitted with a safety filler, place
25.0 cm3 of the alkali into the beaker
○ Measure the temperature of the alkali
○ Add the alkali to the acid, stir with the
thermometer and measure the maximum
temperature reached
Example: Enthalpy of Neutralisation

Volume of 1.00 mol dm-3 HCl 25 cm3

Volume of 1.2 mol dm-3 25 cm3

NaOH

Initial temperature of acid 18.6 oC

Initial temperature of alkali 18.8 oC

Maximum temperature 25.4oC

reached
Evaluating sources of error and assumptions made in the
experiments
● Uncertainties with the measurement of liquid in pipette and the
thermometer
● Some heat energy will be transferred to the thermometer and the
polystyrene cup.
Standard enthalpy change of formation
● The standard enthalpy change of formation is the enthalpy change
measured at standard conditions, when one mole of a substance is
formed from its elements in their standard states.
● The standard enthalpy change of formation of gaseous carbon dioxide is
the enthalpy change for the reaction:
Standard enthalpy change of atomisation
● The enthalpy change measured at a stated temperature, usually 298K and
100kPa when one mole of gaseous atoms is formed from an element in
its standard state.
6. Know Hess’s Law and be able to apply it to:
a. Constructing enthalpy cycles
b. Calculating enthalpy changes of reaction using data
provided, or data selected from a table or obtained from
experiments
Hess’s Law
● Hess’s law states that the enthalpy change of a reaction is independent of
the path taken in converting reactants into products, provided the initial
and final conditions are the same in each case.
● There are two ways to use Hess’s Law:
○ Method 1: Subtract Equations
○ Method 2: Construct an enthalpy cycle
● Example:
○ Calculate the standard enthalpy change of formation of carbon monoxide.
Method 1
Reverse the second equation and then add to the first:

Adding the two equations gives:

Method 2
Enthalpy cycle
Example 1
1. Calculate the enthalpy change of formation of methanol (CH 3OH), given
the following enthalpy change of combustion data:
Example 2
1. Using the following data, calculate the standard enthalpy change for th reaction
represented by the equation:
8. Understand the terms ‘bond enthalpy’ and ‘mean bond
enthalpy’, and be able to use bond enthalpies to calculate
enthalpy changes, understanding the limitations of this method
9. Be able to calculate mean bond enthalpies from enthalpy
changes of reaction
10. Understand that bond enthalpy data gives some indication
about which bond will break first in a reaction, how easy or
difficult it is and therefore how rapidly a reaction will take place
at room temperature
What is bond enthalpy?
● Bond enthalpy (∆BH) is the enthalpy change when one mole of a bond in
the gaseous state is broken.
● For a diatomic molecule, XY, the bond enthalpy is the enthalpy change for
the following reaction:
○ XY(g) —> X(g) + Y(g)
● For polyatomic molecules, each bond has to be considered separately. For
example, with methane there are four separate bond enthalpies:
What is mean bond enthalpy?
● The enthalpy change when one mole of a bond, averaged out over many
different molecules, is broken.
● For example,
○ Energy needed to break the first C—H bond in methane may be different from breaking
the second C—H bond in methane. Hence, a mean bond enthalpy needs to be
established.
Calculating an enthalpy change of reaction using mean
bond enthalpies
● Step 1: Calculate the sum of the mean bond enthalpies of the bonds
broken, Σ(bonds broken).
● Step 2: Calculate the sum of the mean bond enthalpies of the bonds
made, Σ(bonds made)
● Step 3: Calculate the enthalpy change of reaction using the equation:
Example
1. Calculate the enthalpy change of reaction for:
Examples of using enthalpy changes to calculate mean
bond enthalpies
1. Calculate the bond enthalpy of the C=C bond in ethene, given the following data.
Bond enthalpies and ease of reaction
● Bond enthalpies can be used to predict which bonds are most likely to
break first in a reaction, and how easy it is to break the bond.
○ Bonds with higher bond enthalpy require more energy to break than those with a lower
bond enthalpy hence lower bond enthalpies will be the first to break in a reaction.
○ In room temperatures, molecules with lower bond enthalpies will be more likely to react
than molecules with higher bond enthalpies.
○ Higher bond enthalpies may require catalysts or increasing of the temperature
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