CHEMICAL ENERGETICS

BOND ENERGY CALCULATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• Draw and label energy level diagrams for exothermic
and endothermic reactions using data provided
• Calculate the energy of a reaction using bond energies
Key words
• Exothermic
• Endothermic
• Bond Energy
• Reactants
• Products
STARTER
Explaining Energy Changes
Calculating the energy changes in Calculating energy
reactions changes
 So let's calculate the energy change for The calculation is always:
those reactions on page 116. energy in – energy out
1. The exothermic reaction between
hydrogen and chlorine
H — H + Cl — Cl  H — Cl
Energy in to break each mole of bonds:
1XH—H 436 kJ
1 X Cl — Cl 242 kJ
Total energy in 678 kJ
Energy out from the two moles of ▲ For the hydrogen / chlorine
bonds forming: reaction.
2 H — Cl 2 X 431 = 862 kJ
Energy in - energy out = 678kJ - 862kJ = 2184kJ
 So the reaction gives out 184 kJ of energy, overall. Its energy level
diagram is shown on the right.
Explaining Energy Changes
2. The endothermic decomposition of
ammonia
H
__
__
2—N — H  H __ H + 3 H — H

H
Energy in to break the two moles of
bonds: ▲ For the decomposition of
6XN—H 6 X 391 = 2346 kJ ammonia.

Energy out from the four moles of bonds forming:

1 X N __ N 946 kJ
3 X H __
__
—H 3 X 436 = 1308 kJ
Total energy out 2254 kJ
Energy in - energy out = 2346 kJ - 2254 kJ = +92 kJ
So the reaction takes in 92 kJ of energy, overall. Look at its energy level
diagram.
AFL ACTIVITY-1
AFL ACTIVITY-2
Explaining Energy Changes
Starting a reaction off
 To start a reaction, bonds must be broken As
you saw, this needs energy.
 For some reactions, not much energy is
needed. Just mix the reactants at room
temperature. (For example, reactions B and
C on page 114.)
 Some exothermic reactions need heat from
a Bunsen burner just to start bonds
breaking. Then the energy given out by the
reaction breaks further bonds. (E.g., reaction
▲One way to get
A on page 114.)
those bonds
 But for endothermic reactions like the
breaking!
decomposition of calcium carbonate
(reaction F on page 115), you must continue
heating until the reaction is complete.
Q
Explaining Energy Changes
1. Two steps must take place, to go from reactants
to products. What are they?
2. Some reactions are endothermic. Explain why,
using the ideas of bond breaking and bond
making.
3. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen. Draw the
equation for the reaction as above, with lines to
show the bonds.
4. Now see if you can calculate the energy change
for the reaction in 3, using the bond energy
table.