Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Enthalpy Change, ΔH (CIE A Level Chemistry)

Exam Questions

1 hour26 questions
1a2 marks

Standard enthalpy changes include enthalpy of formation, enthalpy of combustion and enthalpy of neutralisation.

 
i)
Define enthalpy of formation.
[1]
ii)
Write an equation that represents the enthalpy of formation of ammonia, NH3.
[1]
1b1 mark

State what is meant by standard conditions in enthalpy measurements.

1c2 marks

Which of the following equation(s) can represent the enthalpy of neutralisation?

A. H2SO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (l) 

B. H2SO4 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

C. HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

Explain your answer.

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2a
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2 marks

Freon 21 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon that was used as a propellant and refrigerant but later withdrawn from use because of its effect on ozone depletion. The formula is CHCl2F.

 

Freon 21 is produced by reacting hydrogen fluoride with trichloromethane in the following reaction:

 
CHCl3 (g) + HF (g) → CHCl2F (g) + HCl (g)
 

Use the data in Table 2.1 to calculate the enthalpy of reaction,ΔHr, for the formation of CHCl2F(g).

 
compound enthalpy change of formation, ΔHf / kJmol–1
CHCl3(g)  –103.2
CHCl2F(g)  –284.1
HF(g)  –273.3
HCl(g)  –92.3
 
Table 2.1
 
enthalpy change of reaction, ΔHr = .............................. kJ mol–1
 
2b2 marks

Using Fig. 2.1, draw a labelled reaction pathway diagram for part (a) and include the activation energy.

1-5-chemical-energetics-1b

Fig. 2.1

2c1 mark

The reaction pathway diagram has a feature known as the transition state. Explain what this means.

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3a2 marks

Define the term average bond enthalpy.

3b1 mark

Give the formula for calculating the standard enthalpy change of reaction, ΔHr, using bond energies.

3c3 marks

Use the data given in Table 3.1 to calculate the enthalpy change for the hydration of ethene to form ethanol. 

CH2CH2 (g) + H2O (g) → CH3CH2OH (l)

Table 3.1

Bond Bond energy / kJ mol-1
C-C 346
C=C 614
C-H 414
C-O 358
O-H 463
3d
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4 marks

Use Table 3.2 to calculate the following enthalpy change for the reaction of ethane and bromine to form 1,2-dibromoethane and hydrogen bromide. 


Table 3.2

Bond Bond enthalpy / kJ mol-1
C-C 346
C-H 414
C-Br 285
H-Br 366
Br-Br 193



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1a
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4 marks

Propane reacts with chlorine to form chloropropane.

C3H8 (g) + Cl2 (g) → C3H7Cl (g) + HCl (g)

i)

Use bond energies from Table 1.1 to calculate the enthalpy change for this reaction.

Table 1.1

Bond Bond Energy
C-H 410
C-Cl 340
Cl-Cl 242
H-Cl 431

Include a sign in your answer.

  

enthalpy change = ................................. kJ mol–1

[3]

ii)

State the conditions needed for this reaction to occur.

[1]

1b3 marks

Using Fig. 1.1, construct a labelled reaction pathway diagram for the reaction in part (a) including the activation energy.

1-5-chemical-energetics-1b

Fig. 1.1

1c2 marks

Ethane and chlorine will also react together under the same conditions.

State and explain the difference in enthalpy change for the two reactions

1d2 marks

Propane will react with bromine in a similar reaction to part (a).

Suggest, with a reason, whether the sum of the bonds broken would be larger or smaller compared to the reaction between propane and chlorine.

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2a4 marks

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2.1 can be used to determine the enthalpy of combustion of butan-1-ol, C4H9OH (Mr = 74.12 gmol-1).

1-5-chemical-energetics-2a

Fig. 2.1

i)
Write an equation to represent the enthalpy of combustion of butan-1-ol.

[2]

ii)
Suggest the purpose of the copper spiral and small electric heater in the apparatus.
[2]

2b
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2 marks

An experiment was carried out and the follow measurements were recorded in Table 2.1

Table 2.1

Mass of butan-1-ol / g 2.20 g Initial temperature of water / oC 22.5
Volume of water / cm3 875 cm3 Final temperature of water / oC 25.0

(Specific heat capacity of water = 4.18 J g-1K-1)

Use the data to calculate the enthalpy of change, q, for the reaction. Give your answer to two significant figures.

 

 

 

q = ........................................... kJ

2c
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3 marks

Determine the enthalpy of combustion of butan-1-ol using Table 2.1 and your answer to part (b).  

Give your answer to three significant figures.

 

 

ΔH = ..................... kJ mol-1

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3a
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1 mark

Two common oxides of nitrogen are nitrogen monoxide, NO, and nitrogen dioxide, NO2.

i)
Complete Table 3.1 to show the oxidation number of nitrogen in each compound.

Table 3.1 

Compound NO NO2
oxidation number of N    

[1]

ii)
Write equations for the formation of NO2 by:

  • The reaction of N2 with O2

  • The reaction of NO with O2

[2]

3b
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3 marks

Molecules of NO2 can be formed by the reaction between N2 and O2. The bond between the N and O atoms in NO2 is a double covalent bond.

The enthalpy change of reaction for this reaction is +497 kJ mol–1. Calculate the bond enthalpy, in kJ mol–1, of the N=O bond. Use relevant data from Table 3.2.

Table 3.2

Bond Bond energy / kJ mol-1
N≡N 941
O=O 495

 

 

 


Bond enthalpy of the N=O bond = ............................. kJ mol–1
[2]

3c2 marks

The boiling points of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are -78.5 oC and 21 oC respectively.

Suggest a reason for the difference.

3d1 mark

Write an equation for the enthalpy of formation of nitrogen monoxide, NO.

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4a
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3 marks

Propane gas is used widely as a fuel which can be be used in camping gas stoves. The enthalpy of combustion for propane is -2219.2 kJ mol-1

What is the minimum mass of fuel is needed to bring 150 cmof water at 21 °C to its boiling point?


Show your working.


................... g
4b1 mark

Suggest why more propane may be required than calculated in part (a).

4c3 marks

Using Fig. 5.1, construct a labelled reaction pathway diagram for the reaction in part (a) including the activation energy.

1-5-chemical-energetics-1b

Fig. 5.1

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1a
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2 marks

The enthalpy change of solution for ammonium chloride can be measured using calorimetry. 12.04 g of ammonium chloride is dissolved in 125.0 cm3 of water at 19.5 °C. 

 

The enthalpy of solution of ammonium chloride is +15.1 kJ mol-1. Determine the energy change, in J, when 12.04 g of ammonium chloride is dissolved in 125.0 cm3 of water.

1b
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1 mark

Use your answer to part (a) to determine the change in temperature, in °C, when the ammonium chloride is dissolved.

1c
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1 mark

Use your answer to part (b) to determine the final temperature, in °C, of the solution during the reaction.

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2a
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3 marks

Determine the enthalpy of hydrogenation of propene using the data in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

Bond Bond enthalpy / kJ mol-1
H-H 435
C-H 413
C-C 347
C=C 619





Enthalpy of hydrogenation, ΔHr = ................................. kJ mol–1

2b
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2 marks

Use the data in Table 2.1 to suggest, with a reason, whether the polymerisation of propene is exothermic or endothermic

2c
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2 marks

Carbon, hydrogen and ethene each burn exothermically in an excess of air.

 
C (s) + O2 (g) → CO(g)    Hθc = –393.7 kJ mol–1
H2 (g) + ½O(g) → H2O (l)    Hθc = –285.9 kJ mol–1
C2H(g) + 3O(g) → 2CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)    Hθc = –1411.0 kJ mol–1
 

Use the data to calculate the standard enthalpy change of formation, ∆Hθf , in kJ mol–1, of ethene at 298 K.

2C (s) + 2H2 (g) → C2H4 (g)





Hθf = ................................. kJ mol–1

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