400
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) à 2H2O (g)
Based on the information given in the table below, what is ΔH° for the above
reaction?
BOND
H-H
O=O
O-H
AVERAGE BOND ENERGY (kJ/mol)
500
500
500
A.) -2,000 kJ
B.) -1,500 kJ
C.) -500 kJ
D.) +1,000 kJ
E.) +2,000 kJ
The correct answer is (C). The bond energy is the energy that must be put into a bond
to break it. First let’s figure out how much energy must be put into the reactants to
break their bonds.
To break 2 moles of H-H bonds, it takes (2 x 500) kJ = 1,000 kJ
To break 1 mole of O=O bonds, it takes 500 kJ.
So to break up the reactants, it takes +1,500 kJ.
Energy is given off when a bond is formed; that’s the negative of the bond energy.
Now let’s see how much energy is given off when 2 moles of H2O are formed.
2 moles of H2O molecules contains 4 moles of O-H bonds, so (4 x -500) kJ = -2,000
kJ are given off.
So the value of ΔH° for the reaction is
(-2,000 kJ, the energy given off) + (1,500 kJ, the energy put in) = -500 kJ.