IB Chemistry SL Reactivity 1.2 Energy Cycles

Practise calculating reaction enthalpy from bonds or pathway-independent Hess cycles, with careful equation reversal, scaling, stoichiometry and signs.

Exam points

calculate reaction enthalpy from bonds broken and formed, including average-bond-enthalpy limits
combine, reverse and scale thermochemical equations to construct a Hess cycle with correct signs

Covered syllabus points

1.2.1—Bond energies 1.2.2—Hess's law

[Maximum number: 4]

Alkenes, such as A (shown below), are important intermediates in the petrochemical industry because they undergo addition reactions to produce a wide variety of products, such as the conversion shown below.

Figure for Question 1.2 Energy cycles question 1 — IB Chemistry SL

In the gas phase, A reacts with hydrogen to form D.

Determine the enthalpy change, in $\mathrm{kJ} \mathrm{mol}^{-1}$ , for the reaction of A with hydrogen, using Table 10 of the Data Booklet, and state whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic.

bonds broken: $(\mathrm{E}(\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C})+\mathrm{E}(\mathrm{H}-\mathrm{H})=612+436=) 1048\left(\mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\right)$ ; Accept (6956+436=) 7392 if all bonds in alkene broken.
bonds formed: $\mathrm{E}(\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{C})+2 \times \mathrm{E}(\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{H})=347+(2 \times 413)=1173\left(\mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\right)$ ;

Marking guidance:

Accept 7517 if all the bonds in the product are summed.
$\Delta H=1048-1173 / 7392-7517=-125\left(\mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\right) ;$
Award [3] for correct final answer.
Award [2] for +125 .
exothermic;

Apply ECF if sign of $\Delta H$ incorrect.
Do not award a mark for "exothermic" if $\Delta H$ given as positive.

[Maximum number: 1]

The students repeated the experiment using 6.16 g of solid hydrated magnesium sulfate, $\mathrm{MgSO}_{4} \cdot 7 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{s})$ , and $50.0 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}$ of water. They found the enthalpy change, $\Delta H_{2}$ , to be $+18 \mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}$ .

The enthalpy of hydration of solid anhydrous magnesium sulfate is difficult to determine experimentally, but can be determined using the diagram below.

\mathrm{MgSO}_{4} \cdot 7 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{~s}) \xrightarrow[\text { water }]{\Delta H_{2}} \mathrm{Mg}^{2+}(\mathrm{aq})+\mathrm{SO}_{4}^{2-}(\mathrm{aq})

Determine the enthalpy change, $\Delta H$ , in $\mathrm{kJ} \mathrm{mol}^{-1}$ , for the hydration of solid anhydrous magnesium sulfate, $\mathrm{MgSO}_{4}$ .

$\quad \Delta H\left(=\Delta H_{1}-\Delta H_{2}\right)=-99\left(\mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\right)$ ;

Marking guidance:

Award [1] if-86 is used giving an answer of $-104\left(\mathrm{~kJ} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\right)$ .

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Covered syllabus points

1.2 Energy cycles question 1

1.2 Energy cycles question 2