O Level Chemistry

Energy
Changes

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Energy changes
Heat can be given out or taken in in a course of
a chemical reactions. Many chemical reactions
give out heat.
Energy changes is studies by physical chemists.
Energy changes is also known as chemical
energetics or thermochemistry. It is studied
under physical chemistry, a branch of chemistry.

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Interesting observations
To a test tube of sodium hydroxide, add some
hydrochloric acid. Feel the test tube. Does it feel
warm or cold?
Add some solid ammonium nitrate to a test tube
full of water. Feel the test tube. Does it feel warm
or cold?

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THE CONCEPT OF ENTHALPY CHANGE

Chemical reactions usually involve a heat change.

In many reactions, heat is given out. In others,
heat is taken in. In the previous slide, the first
reaction produces heat while the second reaction
absorbs heat and the test tube feels cold to the
touch.
The amount of heat taken in or given out during a
chemical reaction is called the enthalpy change or
heat of reaction. Enthalpy, H, cannot be measured
directly. Only enthalpy change can be measured by
experiments.
The symbol for enthalpy change is
H.
Unit of H = kJ/mol or kJ
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THE CONCEPT OF ENTHALPY CHANGE

In general,

H = Hp Hr

where:
H = enthalpy change of reaction
Hp = energy of products
Hr =energy of reactants

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EXOTHERMIC REACTION
Reactions that give out (release) heat energy are
called exothermic reactions.
In an exothermic reaction, the products have
less energy than the reactants, H <
0(negative).
The difference between the energy levels of the
products and reactants is equal to the amount of
heat energy given out by the reaction.
Heat energy given out by the reaction is
transferred
to
the
surroundings,
whose
temperature thus rises (feels hot to the touch).
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EXOTHERMIC REACTION

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ENDOTHERMIC REACTION
Reactions that take in (absorb) heat energy are
called endothermic reactions.
In an endothermic reaction, the products have
more energy than the reactants, H = > 0
(positive).
The difference between the energy levels of the
products and reactants is equal to the amount of
heat energy taken in by the reaction.
Heat energy taken in by the reaction is absorbed
from the surroundings, whose temperature thus
drops (feels cold to the touch).
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ENDOTHERMIC REACTION

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THE CONCEPT OF ACTIVATION ENERGY

Many reactions will

not start until a small

amount of energy is supplied to the reactants.

This minimum energy required to overcome the
energy barrier and to start the reaction is termed
activation energy.
We can consider activation energy as the energy
barrier (energy hill) of a reaction, which must be
overcome before the reaction can start.

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THE CONCEPT OF ACTIVATION ENERGY

Activation

energy

can

be

defined

as

the

minimum energy that reactant molecules must

possess in order for a chemical reaction to occur.
A reaction that takes place easily at room
temperature has a fairly low activation energy.

A reaction that requires a higher temperature to

occur has a higher activation energy.

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ENERGY PROFILE DIAGRAMS

Exothermic Reaction:

Hr

Hp

progress of reaction
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ENERGY PROFILE DIAGRAMS

Endothermic Reaction:

Hp

Hr

progress of reaction
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Bond breaking and Bond Forming

Bond breaking and bond forming occurs during a
chemical reaction. It is therefore this dissociating
(breaking) and formation of bonds that causes
the energy changes in chemical reactions.

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BOND FORMING V BOND BREAKING

Bond Forming:
When covalent bonds are formed, energy is released.
The process of bond forming is exothermic. The
stronger

the

bond

formed,

the

more

energy

is

released.

Bond Breaking:
When covalent bonds are broken, energy is absorbed.
The process of bond breaking is endothermic. The
stronger the bond, the more energy is required.

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EXOTHERMIC & ENDOTHERMIC PROCESSES

Summary:
Exothermic

Heat energy

Temperature

process

is released.

Rise

(given out)

(feels hot)

Endothermic

Heat energy

Temperature

process

is absorbed.

Drop

(taken in)

(feels cold)

H < 0 (-ve)

Bond
Forming

H > 0 (+ve)

Bond
Breaking

By looking at the temperature change or the sign of

the H value, we can tell if a reaction is exothermic or
endothermic.

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IMPORTANT NOTE!
In this chapter, when you are stating the values of H,
you must state the sign of the value. Even if the value
is positive, you must put a + in front of the numerical
value.
For example, H = +121 kJ/mol
H = -321 kJ/mol

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EXOTHERMIC & ENDOTHERMIC PROCESSES

Examples:
Exothermic
processes

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Endothermic
processes
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1.
2.

Gas Liquid Solid

Combustion of fuels (e.g. wood; coal; natural
gas)
Neutralisation reactions
Displacement reactions
Manufacture of ammonia (Haber Process)
Manufacture of sulfuric acid (Contact Process)
Reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen
gas to form water
Solid Liquid Gas
Dissolving of ammonium chloride or ammonium
sulfate crystals in water

THINKING CORNER
When solid potassium chloride is added to
water, the temperature of the liquid mixture
goes down.
Which conclusion can be made
(A)
The process is exothermic.
observation?

from

(B) The process is endothermic.

(C) All solids dissolve with a temperature
decrease.
(D) The activation energy of the reaction is
very high.
Answer:
(B)
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this

CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

In molecular reactions, covalent bonds are being
broken and formed.
Bond enthalpy/energy can be used to predict the
enthalpy/energy change of a reaction, H.
E.g. If the bond energy of a H H bond is 436 kJ, it
means that 436 kJ of energy is absorbed when a H
H bond is broken. It also means that 436 kJ of
energy is released when a H H bond is formed.
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CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

The enthalpy/energy change of a reaction depends
on the energy changes involved in bond breaking
and in bond forming.
If energy absorbed in bond breaking < energy
released in bond forming, then the reaction is
exothermic.
If energy absorbed in bond breaking > energy

released in bond forming, then the reaction is

endothermic.

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CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

Enthalpy/energy change of a reaction, H :
energy change in bond breaking (assign +ve
sign)
+
energy change in bond forming (assign ve
sign)

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Example
Formation of hydrogen fluoride from its elements.
H2 (g) + F2 (g) 2HF (g)
Breaking bonds in reactant molecules:
One H-H bond
One F-F bond
Bond breaking energy = (bond energy of H-H bond) + (bond
energy of F-F bond)
= 436 + 158 = 594 kJ
Bond formation energy = 2(Bond energy of H-F bond) =
2(568) = 1136 kJ
Therefore, H = 594-1136 = -542 kJ

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CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

Example:
Using the given bond energies, calculate the enthalpy
change of the following reaction:
2H2

H-H
+
H-H

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O2

2H2O

H-O-H
O=O
H-O-H

Covalent Bond

Bond Energy (kJ/mol of bonds)

HH

436

OH

463

O=O

496

CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

energy
H
bonds broken
(energy absorbed)

H
O

bonds formed
(energy
released)

O
H

H
O

H
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progress of reaction

CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

Energy absorbed in breaking two H-H bonds
= (+436) 2 = +872 kJ
Energy absorbed in breaking one O=O bond
= (+496) 1 = +496 kJ
Energy released in forming four O-H
bonds
= (-463) 4 = -1852 kJ
Overall enthalpy change of reaction,
H
= (+872) + (+496) + (-1852)
= -484 kJ
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CALCULATING ENTHALPY CHANGE OF REACTIONS

Energy Profile Diagram:
Energy

2H2 + O2
H = -484 kJ
2H2O

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Progress of
reaction

THINKING CORNER
Using the given bond energies, calculate the enthalpy
change of the following reaction:
2H2

H-H
+
H-H

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Cl2

2HCl

H - Cl
Cl - Cl
H - Cl

Covalent Bond

Bond Energy (kJ/mol of bonds)

HH

436

Cl Cl

242

H Cl

431

Show your workings clearly in the next

slide.

THINKING CORNER
Energy absorbed in breaking one H-H bond
= (+436) 2 = +872 kJ
Energy absorbed in breaking one Cl-Cl bond
= (+242) 1 = +242 kJ
Energy released in forming two H-Cl bonds
= (-431) 2 = -862 kJ
Overall enthalpy change of reaction, H
= (+872) + (+242) + (-862)
= +252 kJ
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Conclusion
We have dealt with exothermic and endothermic
energy changes.
We have also used data to calculate the energy
changes occuring for a reaction given the bond
energy data.
The enthalpy change diagram or energy profile
diagram is important in the study of energy
changes.
The heat that is evolved from reactions can be
tapped and harnessed as useful energy, eg.
Combustion of fuel can power turbines and car
engines.
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