Enthalpy of Solution - Ionic Charge & Radius
Factors affecting lattice enthalpy
- The two key factors which affect lattice energy, ΔHlattꝋ, are the charge and radius of the ions that make up the crystalline lattice
Ionic radius
- The lattice energy becomes less exothermic as the ionic radius of the ions increases
- This is because the charge on the ions is more spread out over the ion when the ions are larger
- The ions are also further apart from each other in the lattice
- The attraction between ions is between the centres of the ions involved, so the bigger the ions the bigger the distance between the centre of the ions
- Therefore, the electrostatic forces of attraction between the oppositely charged ions in the lattice are weaker
- For example, the lattice energy of caesium fluoride (CsF) is less exothermic than the lattice energy of potassium fluoride (KF)
- Since both compounds contain a fluoride (F-) ion, the difference in lattice energy must be due to the caesium (Cs+) ion in CsF and potassium (K+) ion in KF
- Potassium is a Group 1 and Period 4 element
- Caesium is a Group 1 and Period 6 element
- This means that the Cs+ ion is larger than the K+ ion
- There are weaker electrostatic forces of attraction between the Cs+ and F- ions compared to K+ and F- ions
- As a result, the lattice energy of CsF is less exothermic than that of KF
The lattice energies get less exothermic as the ionic radius of the ions increases
Ionic charge
- The lattice energy gets more exothermic as the ionic charge of the ions increases
- The greater the ionic charge, the higher the charge density
- This results in stronger electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions in the lattice
- As a result, the lattice energy is more exothermic
- For example, the lattice energy of calcium oxide (CaO) is more exothermic than the lattice energy of potassium chloride (KCl)
- Calcium oxide is an ionic compound which consists of calcium (Ca2+) and oxide (O2-) ions
- Potassium chloride is formed from potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) ions
- The ions in calcium oxide have a greater ionic charge than the ions in potassium chloride
- This means that the electrostatic forces of attraction are stronger between the Ca2+and O2- compared to the forces between K+ and Cl-
- Therefore, the lattice energy of calcium oxide is more exothermic, as more energy is released upon its formation from its gaseous ions
- Ca2+ and O2- are also smaller ions than K+ and Cl-, so this also adds to the value for the lattice energy being more exothermic
Factors affecting enthalpy of hydration
- Hydration enthalpies are exothermic as energy is given out as water molecules bond to the metal ions
- The negative ions are attracted to the δ+ hydrogens on the polar water molecules and the positive ions are attracted to the δ- oxygen on the polar water molecules
- The higher the charge density the greater the hydration enthalpy (e.g. smaller ions or ions with larger charges) as the ions attract the water molecules more strongly, for example:
- Fluoride ions, F-, have more negative hydration enthalpies than chloride ions, Cl-
- Magnesium ions, Mg2+, have a more negative hydration enthalpy than barium ion, Ba2+