SCH4U0 Unit 2: Thermochemistry Unit – The Big Ideas

Big Idea Skills

Terminology: Endothermic, o Define the system & surroundings for different scenarios/reactions
Exothermic, Surroundings, o Understand positive & negative signs (for system & surroundings)
Systems o Be able to define the direction of heat flow (system into
surroundings or vise-versa)
Calorimetry o 3 types of calculations
o Coffee-Cup Calorimeters vs. Bomb Calorimeters (Type 3 problem)
o Understand what the following formulas and variables mean and
how to use them:
o Qsurr = mcT
o Qrxn = -Qsurr
o Hrxn = Qrxn / n
o n=m/M
o c=n/V
o Be able to connect theory with calculations
Hess’s Law and Standard o Solve Hess’s Law problems involving 2, 3, or 4 supplementary
Enthalpies of Formation equations
o Solve Hess’s Law problems which have fractions
o Understand how to use your Standard Enthalpy Data table and to
use the Hess’s Law of Summation Formula
o Hrxn = Σ Hf(products) - Σ Hf (reactants)
Rates of Reaction o Be able to understand the mol ratio and how it relates to rates
o Be able to interpret a concentration vs. time graph for the rate of
disappearance of a reactant or the rate of appearance of a product
o Be able to explain the 5 factors and how they affect rates of
reaction
o Be able to explain collision theory, activation energy, and correct
collision geometry to obtain products in a chemical reaction
o Be able to understand the concept of Ea(fwd) vs. Ea(rev) and its
relation to H

Reaction Rate Law o Given experimental data, be able to calculate the reaction rate
orders (m and n) in the following Rate Law Equation:
o Rate = k[A]m[B]n
o Be able to solve for the magnitude of k as well as the units of k
o Be able to interpret the rate law (rate orders/magnitudes) and be
able to visualize a graphical representation of rate vs.
concentration
Reaction Mechanisms o What is a reaction mechanism? Understand the concept of
elementary steps
o Understand the difference between an intermediate and a catalyst
o Explain the concept of the rate determining step
o If given a reaction mechanism, be able to determine its validity
(based on things like molecularity and rate determining steps)
Unit 1 Test Format:
o Combo of MC Questions and Short Answer
o Questions will be a combination of knowledge, thinking, and application problems

75 minutes to complete the test.

Unit 1 Test: Sample Questions

GENERAL CONCEPT QUESTIONS:

1. If the enthalpy for a reaction is +50kJ, then which statement below is correct?
a) The reaction cannot occur.
b) The reaction is exothermic
c) The reaction is endothermic
d) Heat was transferred from the reaction to the surroundings
e) 2 of the above are correct

2. Interpret the following diagram (to the right), where Ep (on the y-axis) refers to
energy (potential energy).

a) Would H (and/or Q) be positive or negative?

b) Does heat go from the system to surroundings or surroundings to system?
c) Is the enthalpy content higher in the reactants or the products?
d) Is this process endothermic or exothermic?

3. Re-write the following as a thermochemical equation (put the heat/enthalpy term IN the equation as a reactant
or a product).
a) H2(g) + 1/2 O2(g) => H2O(g) H = –243 kJ/mol
b) H2O(g) => H2(g) + 1/2 O2(g) H = +243 kJ/mol

CALORIMETRY PROBLEMS

1. A chemist wants to determine empirically the enthalpy change for the following reaction.
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

The chemist uses coffee-cup calorimeter to react 0.50 g of Mg ribbon with 100 ml of 1.000 mol/L HCl. The
initial temperature of the HCl is 20.40C. After neutralization, the highest recorded temperature is 40.7C.
Calculate the enthalpy change, in kJ/mol of Mg, for the reaction. Ans = -4.1 x 102 kJ/mol

2. HNO3(aq) + KOH(aq)  KNO3(aq) + H2O(l) H = -53.4 kJ.

Nitric acid is neutralized with potassium hydroxide. 55.0 ml of 1.30 mol/L solution of both reactants, at 21.4C,
are mixed in a calorimeter. What is the final temperature of the mixture? Assume that the specific heat capacity
of both solutions is the same as the specific heat capacity of water. No heat is lost to the calorimeter itself. Ans
= 29.7 0C

3. A fuel (C4H8) with a mass of 2.75g is burned in a calorimeter. It raises 50.0g of water temperature from
10.00C to 45.000C. Additional heat is transferred from the water to the calorimeter. The calorimeter is 150g and
has a specific heat capacity of 3.75J/g*0C). Calculate the overall enthalpy of combustion for this reaction.
HESS’S LAW/STANDARD HEATS OF FORMATION PROBLEMS
1. Calculate the H for the reaction: H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g)  H2O (l)

N2 (g) + 3 O2 (g) + H2 (g)  2 HNO3 (l) H = - 355 kJ

2 HNO3 (l) + NO (g)  3 NO2 (g) + H2O (l) H = +72.0 kJ
NO (g) + ½ O2 (g)  NO2 (g) H = -59.0 kJ
2 NO (g)  N2 (g) + O2 (g) H = -180.0 kJ

Use the following heat of formation data to answer questions 2-6:

Hf propane = -104.63 kJ
Hf H2O(l) = -285.8 kJ Hf Cu(NO3)2(aq = -302.9 kJ
Hf CO2(g) = -393.5 kJ Hf HCl(aq) = - 92.3 kJ
Hf H2O(g) = -241.8 kJ Hf ZnCl2 = -244 kJ
Hf CO(g) = -110.5 kJ Hf C2H5OH(l)= -228 kJ
Hf HNO3(l) = -174.1 kJ Hf CH4 = -75kJ
Hf NO2(g) = + 33.2 kJ

2.Calculate the heat of combustion for propane(C3H8). Ans = -2043.1.4 kJ

3. Calculate heat of reaction for: C(s) +H2O(g) H2(g)+CO(g) Ans = 131.3 kJ
4. Calculate the heat of reaction for: Cu(s) +4HNO3(aq)  2NO2(g) + Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2H2O(l) Ans = -23.7 kJ
5. Calculate the heat of reaction for: Zn(s)+ 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g) Ans = - 59.4 kJ
6. Calculate the enthalpy of the reaction C2H5OH + 3 O2  2 CO2 + 3 H2O. Ans = -1416 kJ

REACTION RATE LAWS & MECHANISM PROBLEMS

1. The data table below shows reaction data for the reaction: 2A + B  A2B

Experiment Initial Concentration of A Initial Concentration of B Initial Rate (mol/Ls)

(mol/L) (mol/L)
1 0.46 0.34 1.32
2 0.92 0.34 2.64
3 0.46 1.02 3.96

a) Determine the rate late for this reaction.

b) What is the overall order of the reaction?
c) What are the units for k?

2. Consider the reaction mechanism outlined below:

Step 1: H2(g) + NO(g)  H2O(g) + N(g) (FAST)
Step 2: N(g) + NO(g)  N2O(g) (SLOW)
Step 3: N2O(g) + H2(g)  N2(g) + H2O(g) (FAST)

a) Identify the reaction intermediates and the overall reaction.

b) Identify the rate-determining step of this reaction.
c) State the rate law for this reaction based on the rate-determining step.
d) Is there a catalyst present? Explain why or why not.
e) What would happen to the overall reaction if the concentration of NO(g) was decreased? Why?
3. Explain how each of the situations below would affect the rate of this reaction:

Ca(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

a) Using a catalyst/enzyme
b) Increasing the water temperature
c) Decreasing the water temperature
d) Adding more Calcium