CHM1102

Lecture 26
Hess’s Law
 Hess’s Law
Hess's Law of Constant Heat Summation
• Regardless of the multiple stages or steps of a reaction,
the total enthalpy change for the reaction is the sum
of all changes
• This law is possible because enthalpy is a state function
(does not depend on path)
• The change is only dependent on the initial and final
values
• To use Hess’s Law there must be a sequence of
reactions that adds up to the required reaction
• This process can be broken down into four (4) genaral
steps
 Hess’s Law
C(s) + O2(g) → CO2 (g)
• Sequence
C(s) + ½ O2(g) → CO(g) ∆H° = - 110.5kJ
CO(g) + ½ O2(g) → CO2(g) ∆H° = - 283.0kJ

• Adding the two equations

• C(s) + O2(g) → CO2 (g) ∆H° = - 393.5kJ
 Hess’s Law
Step 1: Select one of the reactants in the overall reaction and write
a chemical equation in which it is a reactant

Step 2: Select one of the products in the overall reaction and write
down a chemical equation in which it is a product. Add this equation
to the equation in Step 1

Step 3: Cancel unwanted species in the sum obtained in Step 2 by

adding an equation that has the same species on the opposite side of
the equation

Step 4: Once the sequence is complete combine the reaction

Enthalpies

• It may be necessary to multiply some equations by some factor or

to reverse an equation.
• Reversing the equation will cause the sign of the enthalpy of that reaction
to be changed
 Hess’s Law
3C(s) + 4H2(g) → C3H8(g) ∆H° = ?

a) C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) → 3CO2 (g) +4H2O(l) ∆H° = - 2220kJ (a)

b) C(s) + O2(g) → CO2 (g) ∆H° = - 394kJ (b)
c) H2 (g) + ½ O2(g) → H2O(l) ∆H° = - 286kJ (c)

(b) x 3
∆H° = - 1182kJ (1)
1) 3C(s) + 3O2(g) → 3CO2 (g)
• Reverse (a)

2) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(l) → C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) ∆H° = + 2220kJ (2)

• Add eqtns 1 & 2

3) 3C(s) + 3O2(g) + 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(l) → 3
∆H° = + 1038kJ (3)
3CO2 + C3H8(g) + 5O2(g)
3C(s) + 4H2O(l) → C3H8(g) + 2O2(g)
(c) x 4
4) 4H2 (g) + 2O2(g) → 4H2O(l) ∆H° = - 1144kJ (4)

• Add eqtns 3 & 4

3C(s) + 4H2O(l) + 4H2 (g) + 2O2(g) → C3H8(g) + 2O2(g) + → 4H2O(l)
∆H° = - 106kJ

3C(s) + 4H2 (g) → C3H8(g) ∆H° = - 106kJ