In the Chemistry and the Environment box on free radicals in this chapter, we discussed the importance of the hydroxyl radical in reacting with and eliminating many atmospheric pollutants. However, the hydroxyl radical does not clean up everything. For example, chlorofluorocarbons—which destroy stratospheric ozone—are not attacked by the hydroxyl radical. Consider the hypothetical reaction by which the hydroxyl radical might react with a chlorofluorocarbon: OH(g) + CF₂Cl₂(g) → HOF(g) + CFCl₂(g) Use bond energies to explain why this reaction is improbable. (The C–F bond energy is 552 kJ/mol.)

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Identify the bonds broken and formed in the reaction: OH(g) + CF_2Cl_2(g) -> HOF(g) + CFCl_2(g).

Calculate the total energy required to break the bonds in the reactants. This includes the O-H bond in OH and one C-F bond in CF_2Cl_2.

Calculate the total energy released when new bonds are formed in the products. This includes the H-O bond in HOF and the C-Cl bond in CFCl_2.

Use the bond energies to calculate the net energy change for the reaction: Net energy change = (Energy required to break bonds) - (Energy released in forming bonds).

Discuss the significance of the net energy change: If the net energy change is positive, the reaction is endothermic and less likely to occur spontaneously, explaining why the reaction is improbable.

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Key Concepts

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

Bond Energy

Bond energy is the amount of energy required to break a bond between two atoms in a molecule. It is a crucial factor in determining the feasibility of a chemical reaction. In the context of the reaction between the hydroxyl radical and chlorofluorocarbon, the high bond energy of the C-F bond (552 kJ/mol) suggests that breaking this bond requires significant energy, making the reaction less likely to occur spontaneously.

Reaction Mechanism

A reaction mechanism describes the step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions by which overall chemical change occurs. Understanding the mechanism helps predict whether a reaction will proceed based on the stability of intermediates and the energy required to break existing bonds. In this case, the mechanism would involve the formation of new bonds and the breaking of strong C-F bonds, which complicates the likelihood of the reaction occurring.

Thermodynamics of Reactions

Thermodynamics in chemistry refers to the study of energy changes during chemical reactions. The Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) determines whether a reaction is spontaneous. If the energy required to break the C-F bond exceeds the energy released from forming new bonds, the reaction will not be favorable. Thus, analyzing the thermodynamic aspects of the proposed reaction is essential to understand its improbability.

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