Lesson 8.

Enthalpy: Heat of a Reaction

General Chemistry 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Energy is an essential part of our understanding of
chemistry.

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From the big bang to the
breakdown of
molecules, energy is
involved in the changes
that occur in our
universe. When
chemical reactions
release or absorb
energy, it is often under
constant pressure. 3
When a paper is burnt
or iron turns to rust,
these reactions take
place under conditions
that are open to the
atmosphere. A
thermodynamic concept
called enthalpy was
created to measure the
heat of such reactions. 4
In this lesson, you will learn about enthalpy
as a state function in thermodynamics, and
its relationship to exothermic and
endothermic reactions.
What is the relationship of
enthalpy to exothermic and
endothermic reactions?

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 Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Explain enthalpy of a reaction.

(STEM_GC11TC-IIIg-i-125)

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Define enthalpy.
● Explain the enthalpy change for a chemical reaction.
● Determine whether the enthalpy change for the
reaction is exothermic or endothermic.

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What is enthalpy?

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 Enthalpy

The universe is a complex interaction of matter and

energy.

● system - the portion

under study
● surroundings -
everything else not part
of the system
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 Enthalpy

The amount of energy in a system is given as:

For pressure-volume work (e.g. expanding gases):

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 Enthalpy

● At constant volume, this becomes ΔE = qv ,

● most processes are done under constant pressure: qp
is used to refer to heat.

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 Enthalpy

The amount of energy under constant pressure becomes:

Rearranging for the heat content under constant pressure,

we now have:

where ΔH = qp refers to enthalpy.

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 Enthalpy

Enthalpy is a state function.

Change in enthalpy, ΔH
Defined as the heat flow in or out of the system when the
thermodynamic process occurs under constant pressure

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 Enthalpy

Enthalpy Change, ΔH
Also called heat of reaction or heat content at constant
pressure.
● joule - SI unit for enthalpy
● extensive property

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 Enthalpy

Enthalpy Change, ΔH
● ΔHrxn- enthalpy of reaction

● ΔH° , standard enthalpy - when it is measured at STP

(298.15 K, 1 atm)

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 Enthalpy

Different thermodynamic processes where ΔH is

measured:
● enthalpy of fusion (ΔHfus) - when a substance
transitions between the solid and liquid phases
● enthalpy of vaporization (ΔHvap) - when a substance
transitions between the liquid and the gaseous phases
● enthalpy of sublimation (ΔHsub) - when a substance
transitions between the solid and the gaseous phases
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 Enthalpy

other processes:
● enthalpy of mixing (ΔHmix) - hen two non-reacting
chemical substances are mixed
● enthalpy of hydration (ΔHhyd) - when a particle
completely dissociates into aqueous ions
○ in the case of dissolution in water

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 Enthalpy

While enthalpy is a state function, its initial and final state

is not measurable. For a chemical reaction,

Standard enthalpies, ΔH°, for well-known reactions are

already measured and can be referred to in literature.
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 Enthalpy

● Standard enthalpy of neutralization (ΔH°neut) - when a

base reacts with an acid in equal amounts to form a salt
and one mole H2O.

● Standard enthalpy of solution (ΔH°soln) - when a mole of

a substance dissolves in a solvent.
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 Enthalpy

● Standard enthalpy of formation (ΔH°f) - when a mole of

a compound is formed from its elements.

● Standard enthalpy of combustion (ΔH°comb) - when a

mole of substance undergoes combustion with oxygen.

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What are exothermic and
endothermic processes?

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 Enthalpy

Exothermic Process
Flow of heat is from system to surroundings

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 Enthalpy

Exothermic Process
Examples
● mixing of acid and base
● dissolution of certain substances like sodium chloride
in water

Rise in temperature is observed but since heat flows from

the system to the surroundings, ΔHrxn is negative
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 Enthalpy

Endothermic Process
Flow of heat is from surroundings to the system

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 Enthalpy

Endothermic Process
Examples:
● dissolution of ammonium chloride in water
● mixing sodium bicarbonate and citric acid

Drop in temperature is observed but since heat flows from

surroundings to the system ΔHrxn is positive.

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Enthalpy

Heat exchange in an exothermic and an endothermic process. 27

 Enthalpy

There may be processes under constant pressure where

there is no heat flow involved. This process is athermic.

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What is the enthalpy of a
reaction if there is no
change to the internal
energy of the system yet
does PV work?
 Check Your Understanding

Identify each item described below.

1. It is the change in enthalpy when a substance
transitions between the solid and liquid phases.
2. It is the change in enthalpy when a mole of a
substance burns in oxygen.
3. It is the change of enthalpy measured at 1 atm of
pressure and a temperature of 298.15 K.

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 Check Your Understanding

Indicate whether the change in enthalpy is positive or

negative.

1. Adding salt to water is an exothermic process.

2. Mixing citric acid and baking soda results in an
endothermic process.
3. In a chemical reaction, the enthalpy of formation of
the products is greater than that of that reactants.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Enthalpy (H) is the thermodynamic variable to

describe the heat content at constant pressure.

● Since enthalpy cannot be measured, the term is used

interchangeably with the change of enthalpy (ΔH) for
a particular process.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The change of enthalpy (ΔH) is defined as the heat flow

in or out of the system when the thermodynamic process
occurs under constant pressure. Since chemical reactions
normally happen under these conditions, the change in
enthalpy is also called the heat of reaction (ΔHrxn).
● When the change in enthalpy is measured in the
standard state, meaning at 1 atmosphere of pressure
and a temperature of 25 °C or 298.15 K, it is called the
standard enthalpy (ΔHo) for the process.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● When heat is released, the process is exothermic. The

flow of heat is from the system to the surroundings. In
this case, ΔHrxn < 0.
● When heat is absorbed, the process is endothermic.
The flow of heat is from the surroundings to the
system, which means ΔHrxn > 0.
● There may be processes under constant pressure
where there is no heat flow involved. This process is
athermic and ΔH = 0. 34
 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Enthalpy as a Enthalpy as the heat

state function content of a system
under constant
pressure.
where
● ΔH = change in enthalpy
● qp = heat at constant pressure
● ΔU = change in internal energy
● P = pressure
● ΔV = change in volume
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Enthalpy of a The formula for enthalpy

reaction of a reaction if the

where enthalpy of formation of

the substances involved
● ΔHrxn = enthalpy of the reaction
are given.
● ∑Hproducts = the sum of the
enthalpies of formation of the
products
● ∑Hreactants = the sum of the
enthalpies of formation of the
reactants 36
Challenge Yourself

Why is the dissolution of sodium

hydroxide in water an exothermic
reaction if this involves breaking
the ionic bonds the sodium and
the hydroxide ions?

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Bibliography
Bettelheim, Frederick A., William H. Brown, Mary K. Campbell, and Shawn O. Farrell. Introduction to
General, Organic, and Biochemistry. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2016. Print.

Brown, Theodore E. Hill, James C., H. Eugene LeMay, Bruce Edward. Bursten, Catherine J. Murphy,
Patrick M. Woodward, and Matthew Stoltzfus. Chemistry: The Central Science, 13th Edition. NJ:
Pearson, 2015. Print.

Chang, Raymond, and Kenneth A. Goldsby. General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2014. Print.

Petrucci, Ralph H, F G. Herring, Jeffry Madura, and Carey Bissonnette. General Chemistry: Principles
and Modern Applications. 2016. Print.

Silberberg, Martin S. Principles of General Chemistry. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2007.
Print. 38