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Ch.5 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 5, Problem 73

Using values from Appendix C, calculate the standard enthalpy change for each of the following reactions: (a) 2 SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2 SO3(g) (b) Mg(OH)2(s) → MgO(s) + H2O(l) (c) N2O4(g) + 4 H2(g) → N2(g) + 4 H2O(g) (d) SiCl4(l) + 2 H2O(l) → SiO2(s) + 4 HCl(g)

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Identify the standard enthalpy of formation (ΔH_f^°) for each reactant and product in the given reactions from Appendix C.
Step 2: For each reaction, apply Hess's Law to calculate the standard enthalpy change (ΔH_rxn^°) using the formula: ΔH_rxn^° = Σ(ΔH_f^° of products) - Σ(ΔH_f^° of reactants).
Step 3: For reaction (a) 2 SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2 SO3(g), calculate ΔH_rxn^° by substituting the ΔH_f^° values of SO3(g), SO2(g), and O2(g) into the formula.
Step 4: For reaction (b) Mg(OH)2(s) → MgO(s) + H2O(l), calculate ΔH_rxn^° by substituting the ΔH_f^° values of MgO(s), H2O(l), and Mg(OH)2(s) into the formula.
Step 5: Repeat the process for reactions (c) and (d), substituting the appropriate ΔH_f^° values for each reactant and product to find the ΔH_rxn^° for each reaction.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Standard Enthalpy of Formation

The standard enthalpy of formation (ΔH°f) is the change in enthalpy when one mole of a compound is formed from its elements in their standard states. This value is crucial for calculating the enthalpy change of a reaction using Hess's law, as it allows for the determination of the energy required or released during the formation of products and reactants.
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Hess's Law

Hess's Law states that the total enthalpy change for a reaction is the sum of the enthalpy changes for the individual steps of the reaction, regardless of the pathway taken. This principle allows chemists to calculate the enthalpy change for complex reactions by breaking them down into simpler steps for which enthalpy values are known.
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Stoichiometry in Reactions

Stoichiometry involves the quantitative relationships between the amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for calculating the standard enthalpy change, as it ensures that the correct coefficients are used when applying the enthalpy values from Appendix C to the balanced chemical equations provided.
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