5.

7: Enthalpies of Formation AP Chemistry

The enthalpy change associated with the formation of one mole of a compound from its constituent
elements is called enthalpy of formation (∆Hf). For example, at 100 °C and standard atmospheric
pressure, the thermochemical equation for the formation of H2O(g) is

H2(g) + ½O2(g)  H2O(g) ∆Hf = -242.3 kJ/mol

The value of ∆Hf for a compound depends on the physical state of the compound, pressure, and
temperature. Thus, it is often helpful to define a set of standard conditions. The standard state for a
substance is its most stable form at the given temperature and pressure. The pressure usually is standard
atmospheric pressure and the temperature is 25 °C (or 298 K). However, other pressures and
temperatures can be specified.

The standard enthalpy of formation (∆H°f) of a compound is the heat of formation for one mole of the
compound in its standard state formed from its constituent elements in their standard states.

The standard enthalpy of formation for any element in its most stable form is by convention taken to be
zero: (∆H°f)298 (O2) = 0 kJ/mol, but (∆H°f)298 (O3) = +142.7 kJ/mol, because O3 is not the most stable form of
elemental oxygen at 25 °C and 1 atm.

A simple method for determining enthalpies of reaction from standard enthalpies of formation is

∆H°rxn = (sum of enthalpies of formation of products) – (sum of enthalpies of reaction of reactants)

Which is sometimes written as

∆H°rxn = n∆H°f (products) – m∆H°f (reactants)

Where  (sigma) means “the sum of” and n and m are the stoichiometric coefficients of the chemical
equation.

Remember though, H°f = 0 for elements in their standard states.

Solved Examples

1) Write the reaction associated with the standard enthalpy of formation for each of the following:

To represent the enthalpy of formation, the compounds will form from their constituent elements in
their most stable states. Also, remember the reactions must be written in a way so as to produce a
single mole of the compound.

a. AgCl(s) Ag(s) + ½ Cl2(g)  AgCl(s)

1 3
b. NH3(g) N2(g) + H2(g)  NH3(g)
2 2

3
c. Na2CO3(s) 2 Na(s) + C(graphite) +
2
O2(g)  Na2CO3(s)
2) Calculate the standard enthalpy change for the reaction

CH2N2(s) + O2(g)  CO(g) + H2O(l) + N2(g)

at 25 °C and standard atmospheric pressure, given the following standard heats of formation:
CO(g), -110.5 kJ/mol; CH2N2(s), +62.4 kJ/mol; H2O(l), -285.8 kJ/mol.

Here we can use the equation…

∆H°rxn = n∆H°f (products) – m∆H°f (reactants)

Substituting the actual substances into the equation we get…

∆H°rxn = ∆H°f (CO) + ∆H°f (H2O) + ∆H°f (N2)] – [∆H°f (CH2N2) + ∆H°f (O2)]

Plugging in the values for standard enthalpies of formation we get…

𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗
∆H°rxn = 1 mol(-110.5 ) + 1 mol (-285.8 ) + 1mol (0 )] – [1 mol (+62.4 ) + 1mol(0 )]
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙

Note: each substance has a coefficient of 1 based on the balanced equation, and the standard
enthalpies of formation for the two elemental substances (N2 & O2) are 0 kJ/mol.

Finally, solving this equation gives us ∆H°rxn = -458.7 kJ

3) Naphthalene (C10H8) is a solid aromatic compound often sold as mothballs. The complete
combustion of this substance to yield CO2(g) and H2O(l) at 25 °C yields 5154 kJ/mol.

a. Write the balanced equation for the combustion of naphthalene.

C10H8(s) + 12 O2(g)  10 CO2(g) + 4 H2O(l) ∆H°rxn = -5154 kJ/mol

b. Write the balanced equation for the formation of naphthalene from its elements.

10 C(graphite) + 4 H2(g)  C10H8(s)

c. Calculate the standard enthalpy of formation of naphthalene.

We will use the same equation as in problem #2, but this time we know the enthalpy change
for the overall process and will be solving for the ∆H°f for C10H8(s). Note, ∆H°f values for
O2(g), CO2(g), and H2O(l) are 0 kJ/mol, -393.5 kJ/mol, and -285.8 kJ/mol respectively.

𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗 𝑘𝑗
-5154 kJ/mol = [10 mol(-393.5𝑚𝑜𝑙) + 4 mol(-285.8𝑚𝑜𝑙)] − [∆H°f (C10H8) + 12 mol(0𝑚𝑜𝑙)]

Simplified we get…

-5154 kJ/mol = [-5078.2 kJ/mol] – [∆H°f (C10H8)]

Solving for ∆H°f (C10H8) we get +76 kJ/mol

Name: __________________________________ Period: ________ Date: _______________

Enthalpies of Formation AP Chemistry – 5.7

Directions: Answer the following questions concerning enthalpies of formation. Show your work for all calculations.

1) What is meant by the term standard conditions with reference to enthalpy changes?

2) What is meant by the term enthalpy of formation?

3) What is meant by the term standard enthalpy of formation?

4) What is the value of the standard enthalpy of formation of an element in its most stable form?

5) Does ∆Hrxn for the reaction represented by the following equation equal the standard enthalpy of formation for
CH3OH(l)? Why or why not?

C(graphite) + 4 H(g) + O(g)  CH3OH(l)

6) Write the chemical equation for the reaction whose enthalpy change is the standard enthalpy of formation of
glucose, C6H12O6(s), ∆H°f [C6H12O6].

7) For each of the following compounds, write a balanced thermochemical equation depicting the formation of
one mole of the compound from its elements in their standard states, and use Appendix C to obtain the value
of ∆H°f.

a. NH4NO3(g)

b. SO2(g)

8) The following is known as the thermite reaction:

2 Al(s) + Fe2O3(s)  Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(s)

This highly exothermic reaction is used for welding massive units, such as propellers for large ships. Using
standard enthalpies of formation in Appendix C, calculate ∆H° for this reaction.

9) Complete combustion of 1 mol of acetone (C3H6O) liberates 1790 kJ:

C3H6O(l) + 4 O2(g)  3 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(l) ∆H° = -1790 kJ

Using this information together with data from Appendix C, calculate the enthalpy of formation of acetone.
10) Gasoline is composed primarily of hydrocarbons, including many with eight carbon atoms, called octanes.
One of the cleanest-burning octanes is a compound called 2,3,4-trimethylpentane, which has the following
structural formula:

The complete combustion of one mole of this compound to CO2(g) and H2O(g) leads to ∆H° = -5064.9 kJ/mol.

a. Write a balanced equation for the combustion of 1 mol of C8H18(l).

b. Write a balanced equation for the formation of C8H18(l) from its elements.

c. By using the information in this problem and Table 5.3 (below), calculate ∆H°f for 2,3,4-
trimethylpentane.