ENERGY CHANGES IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS

During a chemical reaction, an energy

change takes place.
Energy is given out or taken in, in form
of heat.
 
EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS
An exothermic reaction is one in which
heat energy is given out.
 EXOTHERMIC GRAPH
When heat is given out, the solution becomes
warm and later the temperature goes back to
room temperature.
 Examples
• Reacting iron with suphur, the mixture
glows.
Fe(s) + S(s) → FeS(s) ∆H = -100kj/mol

• Mixing silver nitrate with sodium chloride

solution gives a white precipitate, and the
temperature rises.

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq)→ AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

• Addition of water to quicklime (calcium
oxide), heat is given out.
CaO(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(s)
• Neutralisation of an acid by an alkali.
E.g NaOH(aq)+HCl(aq)→NaCl(aq)+ H2O(l)
 H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H2O(l)
• Combustion of fuels
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
• Respiration in the body cells
• Dilution of concentrated sulphuric
acid
The minus sign shows that energy is
given out
In an exothermic reaction the
total energy of the reactants is
greater than the total energy of
the products.
 ENERGY DIAGRAM FOR AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION

ENERGY

IN
KJ

REACTION PATHWAY
• ∆H stands for enthalpy change. This is the
difference in energy between the reactants
and the products.
• The letter H stands for heat or enthalpy (the
heat content of the chemicals).
 ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS

An endothermic reaction is one in

which heat energy is taken in.
Examples
• Reaction of barium hydroxide
with ammonium chloride to form
barium chloride, water and
ammonia.
Ba(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl → BaCl2+ 2H2O + 2NH3
• Strong heating of calcium carbonate gives
calcium oxide and carbon dioxide

CaCO3(s) →CaO(s) + CO2(g) ∆H = +178kj/mol

• Photosynthesis. It takes energy
from sunlight.
• Dissolving ammonium nitrate in
water.
• The plus sign shows that energy
is taken in.
.
 ENDOTHERMIC GRAPH
When heat is absorbed from the surrounding of
reactant, the solution becomes cooler and later
the temperature goes back to room temperature
In an endothermic reaction the total
energy of the reactants is less than
the total energy of the products.
 ENERGY DIAGRAM FOR AN ENDOTHERMIC REACTION

ENERGY

IN

KJ

REACTION PATHWAY
 BOND ENERGIES
The bond energy is the energy needed to
break covalent bonds, or released when
these bonds are formed. It is given in
kj/mol.
Bond energy(kj/mol) 
H-H 436
Cl-Cl 242
H-Cl431
• C-C 346
• C=C 612
• C-O 358
• C-Cl 339
• C-H 413
• O=O 498
• O-H 464
 N≡N 936
N-H 391
C=O 743
O-O 146
N=N 163
If the energy released in bond making is
greater than the energy needed for
breaking bonds, the reaction is
exothermic.

If the energy released in bond making is

less than the energy needed for bond
breaking, then the reaction is
endothermic
 CALCULATING THE ENERGY CHANGES IN REACTIONS
 
1 For the reaction between hydrogen and chlorine
 
H-H + Cl-Cl → 2H-Cl
Energy in to break each mole of bonds in reactants:
1xH-H 436kj
1xCl-Cl 242kj

Total energy in 678kj

 
Energy out from the two moles of bonds forming:
2xH-Cl 2x431 =862kj
 
∆H=Energy in – Energy out=678kj-862kj= -184kj
 
Overall the reaction is exothermic since ∆H is
negative.
 .

2 For the decomposition of ammonia

H
ǀ
2 N—H → N≡N + 3H-H
|
H
Energy in to break the bonds in reactant:
6 xN-H 6 x391 = 2346kj
Energy out from the four moles of bonds forming:
1 xN≡N 964kj
3 xH-H 3x436 = 1308kj
Total energy out 2272kj

∆H = Energy in -energy out =2346kj-2272kj = +74kj

Overall ,the reaction is endothermic since ∆H is

positive.
 EXERCISE
1 For the reaction below:
H2(g) + Cl2(g) → 2HCl(g)
a) Calculate the enthalpy change for
the reaction.
b) b) Is the reaction exothermic or
endothermic? Explain your answer.
2 Study the reaction below,
N2(g) + 3H2(g) → 2NH3(g)
a) What is the enthalpy change for the
reaction?
b) Is the reaction exothermic or
endothermic? Explain.
3) For the reaction below:
CH4(g)+ 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
a) Calculate the enthalpy change
for the reaction.
b) Is the reaction exothermic or
endothermic? Explain your answer.
4) When 1g of methane is burnt in air,
55kj of heat is released.
CH4(g) + 2O2(g → CO2(g) +
2H2O(l)
Calculate the enthalpy change for the
complete combustion of 1mole of
methane
5 For the reaction below,
CH4(g) + Cl2(g) → CH3Cl(g) + HCl(g)
a) Calculate the enthalpy change for
the reaction.
b) Is the reaction exothermic or
endothermic?
c) Give a reason for your answer
6 At 1500c and a pressure of one atmosphere, the reversible
reaction between gas A and gas B reaches a dynamic
equilibrium.
 
A(g) + 2B(g) AB2(g) ∆H =-220kj/mol
(a)Is the formation ofAB2 exothermic or endothermic? Explain
your answer. [2]
(b) (i) What is meant by the phrase dynamic equilibrium?
(ii)Predict how the proportion of AB2 at equilibrium changes if
the pressure is increased?

(c)What effect will an increase in temperature have on the rate

of formation of AB2? Explain your answer in terms of the
movement of the molecules.
 Cont.

7 Methane is a fuel. It completely burns to

form carbon dioxide and water. When one
mole of methane is burned, 880kj of energy
are released.
 Cont.

a) Calculate the energy released when 0.32g

of methane is burned. [2]
(b) Use ideas of bond breaking and bond
forming to explain why the reaction is
exothermic.
 Cont.

8 In the future, fuel cells may be used to power

cars. In a fuel cell, the overall reaction is
represented by the equation.
 
2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)
 
This is the energy profile diagram for the
reaction between hydrogen and oxygen
Cont.
 Cont.

(i) Label on the diagram the activation energy

of the reaction.
(ii)The fuel cell contains a catalyst. Draw a
second curve on the diagram to show the
energy profile for the catalysed reaction.
(iii) Explain why the reaction is exothermic in
terms of bond breaking and bond forming