CHAPTER 3

THERMOCHEMISTR
Y
Thermochemistry is the branch of chemistry
that studies the heat changes in chemical
reactions.

. There is a change of energy when a chemical

reaction occurs and usually involves heat energy.
. Heat energy is either released or absorbed
during a chemical reaction.
 Chemical
reactions can
be classified
into

Exothermic Endothermic
reactions reactions
 EXOTHERMIC

 Chemical reactions that release heat to the surroundings.

 Causes the temperature to rise.
 The container becomes hot.
 The total energy of reactants is higher than products.
 
 H = Hproducts - Hreactants
 
 H = negative sign
 Occurs during the formation of bond
 EXOTHERMIC

The amount of heat released during the formation of

bonds in products is more than the heat absorbed during
the breaking of bonds in reactants.
Examples: Respiration, neutralisation, oxidation of
metals, combustion of fuel, production of ammonia and
dissolving sodium hydroxide in water.
 EXOTHERMIC

 Energy level diagram

Energy

Reactants

 H = - Y kJ mol-1

Products
 ENDOTHERMIC
 Chemical reactions that absorb heat from the
surroundings.
 Causes the temperature to drop.
 The container becomes cold.
 The total energy of reactants is lower than products.
 
 H = Hproducts - Hreactants
 
 H = positive sign
 Occurs during the breaking of bond
 ENDOTHERMIC

The amount of heat released during the formation of

bonds in products is less than the heat absorbed during
the breaking of bonds in reactants.
Examples: Photosynthesis, decomposition of metal
carbonate and metal nitrates when heated and
dissolving ammonium salts in water.
 ENDOTHERMIC

 Energy level diagram

Energy

Products

 H = + Y kJ mol-1

Reactants
 Heat of reaction
During a chemical reaction, heat is absorbed or released.
 

This heat is called heat of reaction and is given the

symbol H.
The unit for heat of reaction is kJ mol-1.
 

Heat of reaction, H is the heat change of one mole of

reactant that reacts or one mole of product that is formed.
The following thermochemical equation shows an exothermic reaction
 
Mg(s) + H2SO4(aq) MgSO4(aq) + H2(g) ; H = - 467 kJ mol-1

Energy   The reaction between magnesium, Mg and

sulphuric acid, H2SO4 forming magnesium
sulphate, MgSO4 and hydrogen gas, H2 is an
Mg(s) + H2SO4(aq) exothermic reaction.
 When 1 mole of Mg reacts with 1 mole of
H2SO4 to form 1 mole of MgSO4 and 1 mole
of H2 gas, 467 kJ is released to the
 H = - 467 kJ mol-1 surroundings.
 During the reaction, the temperature of the
mixture increases.
MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)  The total energy content of the products
(MgSO4 and H2) is lower than the total energy
content of the reactants (Mg and H2SO4).
Therefore, H is negative
The following thermochemical equation shows an endothermic reaction
 
N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g) ; H = + 180 kJ mol-1

Energy  
 The reaction between nitrogen gas, N2 and
oxygen gas, O2 forming nitrogen monoxide
2NO(g) gas, NO is an endothermic reaction.
 When 1 mole of N2 reacts with 1 mole of O2 to
form 2 mole of NO gas, 180 kJ is absorbed
from the surroundings.
 H = + 180 kJ mol-1  During the reaction, the temperature of the
mixture decreases.
 The total energy content of the products (NO)
N2(g) + O2(g) is higher than the total energy content of the
reactants (N2 and O2).
Therefore, H is positive
During a chemical reaction, the chemical bonds in the reactants are broken and new
bonds are formed in the products. Based on Table 3.1, the change for the reaction
between hydrogen, H2 and chlorine, Cl2 to produce hydrogen chloride is shown in
Figure 3.3.
In an exothermic reaction, the heat energy released
during the formation of the bonds in the products is
greater than the heat energy absorbed to break the
bonds in the reactants.
In an endothermic reaction, the heat energy absorbed
to break the bonds in the reactants is greater than the
heat energy released during the formation of the
bonds in the products.