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Bond Enthalpies

Sophie Anderson

Sophie Anderson

7 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers bond energetics, focusing on how energy changes during chemical reactions. It explains that breaking bonds requires energy (endothermic) and forming bonds releases energy (exothermic). The guide defines bond dissociation energy (BDE), describes BDE trends related to bond strength and length, and shows how to calculate the enthalpy of reaction (ΔH) using BDEs with the formula: ΔH = ΣH(reactants) - ΣH(products). It includes example problems, practice questions, and exam tips.

AP Chemistry Study Guide: Bond Energetics

Hey there, future AP Chem master! Let's break down bond energetics – it's all about energy in reactions, and you've got this! 💪

Introduction to Bond Energy

The Basics

  • Bonds aren't just lines on paper; they're packed with energy! 😲
  • Key Concept: Reactions happen because bonds break and form. This is the heart of why reactions are exothermic or endothermic.
Key Concept

Breaking bonds ALWAYS requires energy (endothermic), while forming bonds ALWAYS releases energy (exothermic).

Memory Aid

BARF: Breaking Absorbs, Releasing Forms. This helps you remember the energy flow during bond changes.

Breaking Bonds: Energy In

  • Think of it like snapping a twig 💥: you have to put in energy to break it.
  • Breaking a bond requires energy input into the system.

Breaking Bonds

Caption: Energy is required to break the bond between two atoms.

Forming Bonds: Energy Out

  • When bonds form, energy is released.
  • This happens because the system goes to a lower potential energy state.

Potential Energy Diagram

Caption: Potential energy decreases as atoms form a bond, releasing energy.

Bond Dissociation Energy (BDE)

What is BDE?

  • Definition: The energy needed to break a specific bond. It's like the strength of a bond.
  • BDE varies depending on the type of bond.
  • More Bonds, Higher BDE:

    • Triple bonds > double bonds > single bonds
    • More bonds = stronger bond = more energy to break
  • Bond Length and Strength:

    • Shorter bonds = stronger bonds = higher BDE
    • Longer bonds = weaker bonds = lower BDE

Bond Length

Caption: Shorter bonds are stronger and require more energy to break.

Quick Fact

Shorter bonds are stronger and have a higher BDE, while longer bonds are weaker and have a lower BDE.

Calculating Enthalpy of Reaction (ΔH) Using BDEs

The Formula

  • Key Idea: Reactions are just bond-breaking and bond-forming processes.
  • Formula: ΔH = ΣH(broken) - ΣH(formed) or ΔH = ΣH(reactants) - ΣH(products)
Exam Tip

Remember: Reactants - Products when using Bond Dissociation Energies. This is different from other enthalpy calculations, so be careful!

How to Use It

  1. Break all the bonds in the reactants.
  2. Form all the bonds in the products.
  3. Sum the BDEs of bonds broken (reactants).
  4. Sum the BDEs of bonds formed (products).
  5. Plug into the formula: ΔH = ΣH(broken) - ΣH(formed)

Example Problem #1

Given:

H2(g)+12O2(g)H2O(g)H_2(g) + \frac{1}{2}O_2(g) \rightarrow H_2O(g)

Bond Energies:

  • H-H = 432 kJ/mol

  • O=O = 498 kJ/mol

  • O-H = 463 kJ/mol

  • O-O = 139 kJ/mol

  • ΔH = (H-H + O=O) - (O-H + O-O + O-H)

  • ΔH = (432 + 498) - (463 + 139 + 463) = -135 kJ/mol

Common Mistake

Always draw out the molecules to ensure you're using the correct BDEs! For example, CO2 has two C=O bonds, not two C-O bonds.

Example Problem #2

Find the heat of reaction for:

CH4(g)+2O2(g)CO2(g)+2H2O(g)CH_4(g) + 2O_2 (g) \rightarrow CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(g)

BondD (kJ)/mol
C-H413
O-H463
C-O358
C=O799
O=O498
  • ΔH = [4(C-H) + 2(O=O) ] - [2(C=O) + 4(O-H)]
  • ΔH = [4(413) + 2(498)] - [2(799) + 4(463)] = -802 kJ/mol
Exam Tip

Don't forget the sign of ΔH! Exothermic reactions have a negative ΔH, and forgetting it can cost you points. 😢

Final Exam Focus

Key Topics to Review

  • BARF mnemonic - Breaking Absorbs, Releasing Forms
  • Relationship between bond strength, bond length, and BDE
  • Calculating ΔH using BDEs (reactants - products)
  • Drawing molecules correctly to identify all bonds

Common Question Types

  • Multiple-choice questions that test your understanding of bond breaking/forming
  • Free-response questions that require you to calculate ΔH using BDEs
  • Questions that combine bond energy with other thermodynamics concepts

Last-Minute Tips

  • Time Management: Practice calculating ΔH using BDEs quickly and accurately.
  • Common Pitfalls: Double-check your bond counts and signs of ΔH.
  • Strategies: Draw out all molecules to avoid mistakes in bond counting. Use BARF to remember the energy flow.

Practice Question

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Which of the following statements is true regarding bond breaking and bond formation? (A) Both processes release energy. (B) Both processes require energy. (C) Bond breaking releases energy, and bond formation requires energy. (D) Bond breaking requires energy, and bond formation releases energy.

  2. Given the bond energies: C-H (413 kJ/mol), O=O (498 kJ/mol), C=O (799 kJ/mol), and O-H (463 kJ/mol), what is the enthalpy change for the following reaction?

    CH4(g)+2O2(g)CO2(g)+2H2O(g)CH_4(g) + 2O_2(g) \rightarrow CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(g)

    (A) -802 kJ/mol (B) +802 kJ/mol (C) -401 kJ/mol (D) +401 kJ/mol

  3. Which bond is likely to have the highest bond dissociation energy? (A) C-C (B) C=C (C) C≡C (D) C-H

Free Response Question

Consider the reaction:

N2(g)+3H2(g)2NH3(g)N_2(g) + 3H_2(g) \rightarrow 2NH_3(g)

Given the following bond energies:

  • N≡N = 941 kJ/mol
  • H-H = 436 kJ/mol
  • N-H = 391 kJ/mol

(a) Draw the Lewis structures for N2N_2, H2H_2, and NH3NH_3.

(b) Calculate the enthalpy change (ΔH) for the reaction using bond energies.

(c) Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? Explain.

Scoring Breakdown

(a) Lewis Structures (3 points)

  • 1 point for correct Lewis structure of N2N_2 (N≡N)
  • 1 point for correct Lewis structure of H2H_2 (H-H)
  • 1 point for correct Lewis structure of NH3NH_3 (3 N-H bonds around N)

(b) Calculation of ΔH (3 points)

  • 1 point for correct application of the formula: ΔH = ΣH(broken) - ΣH(formed)
  • 1 point for correct calculation of total energy for bonds broken: (941 + 3(436)) = 2249 kJ/mol
  • 1 point for correct calculation of total energy for bonds formed: 2(3 * 391) = 2346 kJ/mol. ΔH = 2249 - 2346 = -97 kJ/mol

(c) Exothermic or Endothermic (1 point)

  • 1 point for stating that the reaction is exothermic because ΔH is negative.

Question 1 of 9

Breaking a chemical bond is like snapping a twig 💥. Does this process require or release energy?

Releases energy

Requires energy

Sometimes requires, sometimes releases

Neither requires nor releases