Question 6.PS.12: Thermochemical Expressions for Standard Molar Enthalpies of ......
Thermochemical Expressions for Standard Molar Enthalpies of Formation
Rewrite thermochemical Expressions 6.9 and 6.10 so that they represent standard molar enthalpies of formation of their products. (The standard molar enthalpy of formation value for MgSO_4(s) is – 1284.9 kJ/mol at 25 °C.)
Mg( s ) + \frac{1}{2} S_8(s) + 2 O_2(g) → MgSO_4(s) ΔH^\circ_f \left\{MgSO_4( s )\right\} = – 1284.9 kJ/mol
and
\frac{1}{4} P_4(s) + \frac{3}{2}Cl_2(g) → PCl_3(\ell ) ΔH^\circ_f \left\{PCl_3(\ell )\right\} = – 319.7 kJ/mol
Strategy and Explanation Expression 6.9 has 1 mol MgSO_4(s) on the right side, but the reactants are not elements in their standard states. Write a new expression so that the left side contains the elements Mg(s), S_8(s), and O_2(g). For this expression ΔH° is the standard molar enthalpy of formation, – 1284.9 kJ/mol. The new thermochemical expression is given in the Answer section above.
Expression 6.10 has elements in their standard states on the left side, but more than 1 mol of product is formed. Rewrite the expression so the right side involves only 1 mol PCl_3(\ell ), and reduce the coefficients of the elements on the left side in proportion—that is, divide all coefficients by 4. Then ΔH° must also be divided by 4 to obtain the second thermochemical expression in the Answer section.
Reasonable Answer Check Check each expression carefully to make certain the substance whose standard enthalpy of formation you want is on the right side and has a coefficient of 1. For PCl_3(\ell ), ΔH^\circ_f should be one fourth of about 1300 kJ, and it is.