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4.14: Calculating Heat of Reaction from Heat of Formation

  • Page ID
    221476
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    Calculating Heat of Reaction from Heat of Formation

    An application of Hess's law allows us to use standard heats of formation to indirectly calculate the heat of reaction for any reaction that occurs at standard conditions. An enthalpy change that occurs specifically under standard conditions is called the standard enthalpy (or heat) of reaction and is given the symbol \(\Delta H^\text{o}\). The standard heat of reaction can be calculated by using the following equation.

    \[\Delta H^\text{o} = \sum n \Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f} \: \text{(products)} - \sum n \Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f} \: \text{(reactants)}\nonumber \]

    The symbol \(\Sigma\) is the Greek letter sigma and means "the sum of". The standard heat of reaction is equal to the sum of all the standard heats of formation of the products minus the sum of all the standard heats of formation of the reactants. The symbol "\(n\)" signifies that each heat of formation must first be multiplied by its coefficient in the balanced equation.

    Standard Heats of Formation of Selected Substances
    Table \(\PageIndex{1}\): Standard Heats of Formation of Selected Substances
    Substance \(\Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f}\) \(\left( \text{kJ/mol} \right)\) Substance \(\Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f}\) \(\left( \text{kJ/mol} \right)\)
    \(\ce{Al_2O_3} \left( s \right)\) -1669.8 \(\ce{H_2O_2} \left( l \right)\) -187.6
    \(\ce{BaCl_2} \left( s \right)\) -860.1 \(\ce{KCl} \left( s \right)\) -435.87
    \(\ce{Br_2} \left( g \right)\) 30.91 \(\ce{NH_3} \left( g \right)\) -46.3
    \(\ce{C} \left( s, graphite \right)\) 0 \(\ce{NO} \left( g \right)\) 90.4
    \(\ce{C} \left( s, diamond \right)\) 1.90 \(\ce{NO_2} \left( g \right)\) 33.85
    \(\ce{CH_4} \left( g \right)\) -74.85 \(\ce{NaCl} \left( s \right)\) -411.0
    \(\ce{C_2H_5OH} \left( l \right)\) -276.98 \(\ce{O_3} \left( g \right)\) 142.2
    \(\ce{CO} \left( g \right)\) -110.5 \(\ce{P} \left( s, white \right)\) 0
    \(\ce{CO_2} \left( g \right)\) -393.5 \(\ce{P} \left( s, red \right)\) -18.4
    \(\ce{CaO} \left( s \right)\) -635.6 \(\ce{PbO} \left( s \right)\) -217.86
    \(\ce{CaCO_3} \left( s \right)\) -1206.9 \(\ce{S} \left( rhombic \right)\) 0
    \(\ce{HCl} \left( g \right)\) -92.3 \(\ce{S} \left( monoclinic \right)\) 0.30
    \(\ce{CuO} \left( s \right)\) -155.2 \(\ce{SO_2} \left( g \right)\) -296.1
    \(\ce{CuSO_4} \left( s \right)\) -769.86 \(\ce{SO_3} \left( g \right)\) -395.2
    \(\ce{Fe_2O_3} \left( s \right)\) -822.2 \(\ce{H_2S} \left( s \right)\) -20.15
    \(\ce{H_2O} \left( g \right)\) -241.8 \(\ce{SiO_2} \left( s \right)\) -859.3
    \(\ce{H_2O} \left( l \right)\) -285.8 \(\ce{ZnCl_2} \left( s \right)\) -415.89
    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Calculate the standard heat of reaction \(\left( \Delta H^\text{o} \right)\) for the reaction of nitrogen monoxide gas with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide gas.

    Solution
    Step 1: List the known quantities and plan the problem.
    Known
    • \(\Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f}\) for \(\ce{NO} \left( g \right) = 90.4 \: \text{kJ/mol}\)
    • \(\Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f}\) for \(\ce{O_2} \left( g \right) = 0\) (element)
    • \(\Delta H^\text{o}_\text{f}\) for \(\ce{NO_2} \left( g \right) = 33.85 \: \text{kJ/mol}\)
    Unknown

    First write the balanced equation for the reaction. Then apply the equation to calculate the standard heat of reaction from the standard heats of formation.

    Step 2: Solve.

    The balanced equation is: \(2 \ce{NO} \left( g \right) + \ce{O_2} \left( g \right) \rightarrow 2 \ce{NO_2} \left( g \right)\)

    Applying the equation from the text:

    \[\begin{align*} \Delta H^\text{o} &= \left[ 2 \: \text{mol} \: \ce{NO_2} \left( 33.85 \: \text{kJ/mol} \right) \right] - \left[ 2 \: \text{mol} \: \ce{NO} \left( 90.4 \: \text{kJ/mol} \right) + 1 \: \text{mol} \: \ce{O_2} \left( 0 \: \text{kJ/mol} \right) \right] \\ &= -113 \: \text{kJ} \end{align*}\nonumber \]

    The standard heat of reaction is \(-113 \: \text{kJ}\nonumber \]

    Step 3: Think about your result.

    The reaction is exothermic, which makes sense because it is a combustion reaction and combustion reactions always release heat.

    Summary

    • An enthalpy change that occurs specifically under standard conditions is called the standard enthalpy (or heat) of reaction and is given the symbol \(\Delta H^\text{o}\).
    • Standard heats of reaction can be calculated from standard heats of formation.

    4.14: Calculating Heat of Reaction from Heat of Formation is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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