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Grade 11Physical Chemistry

the standard entalphy of formation at 298 K for methane,CH4(g) is -74.8kj/mol/ the additiooal information required to determine the average energy for C-H bond formation would be:
a)the dissociation energy of H2 and entalphy of sublimation of carbon
b)latent heat of vapourisation of methane
c)the first four ionization energies of carbon and electron gain enthalpy of hydrogen
d)the dissociation energy of hydrogen molecule,H2

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9 Years agoGrade 11
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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer1 Year ago

The standard enthalpy of formation for methane (CH4) at 298 K being -74.8 kJ/mol tells us how much energy is released when one mole of methane is formed from its elements in their standard states. To find the average energy for C-H bond formation, we need to consider the energies involved in breaking and forming bonds. Among the options provided, the most relevant information would be the dissociation energy of H2 and the enthalpy of sublimation of carbon. Let's break this down further.

Understanding the Components

To calculate the average energy of C-H bond formation, we can use Hess's law, which states that the total enthalpy change during a chemical reaction is the same, regardless of the number of steps in the reaction. The formation of methane from its elements can be represented as:

  • C(s) + 2H2(g) → CH4(g)

In this reaction, we need to consider the following steps:

1. Sublimation of Carbon

The enthalpy of sublimation of carbon is the energy required to convert solid carbon (graphite) into gaseous carbon atoms. This step is crucial because we need gaseous carbon to react with hydrogen to form methane.

2. Dissociation of Hydrogen

The dissociation energy of H2 is the energy needed to break the H-H bond in molecular hydrogen to form two hydrogen atoms. Since we need two hydrogen atoms for the formation of one methane molecule, this energy is essential for our calculations.

Calculating the Average Energy of C-H Bonds

Once we have the enthalpy of sublimation of carbon and the dissociation energy of H2, we can set up the equation based on Hess's law:

  • ΔHf (CH4) = ΔHsub (C) + 2 * ΔHdiss (H2) + 4 * ΔH(C-H)

Where:

  • ΔHf (CH4) is the standard enthalpy of formation of methane (-74.8 kJ/mol).
  • ΔHsub (C) is the enthalpy of sublimation of carbon.
  • ΔHdiss (H2) is the dissociation energy of H2.
  • ΔH(C-H) is the average bond energy of the C-H bonds in methane.

Rearranging this equation allows us to solve for the average bond energy of the C-H bonds:

  • ΔH(C-H) = [ΔHf (CH4) - ΔHsub (C) - 2 * ΔHdiss (H2)] / 4

Why Other Options Are Less Relevant

Now, let’s briefly discuss why the other options are not as suitable:

  • Latent heat of vaporization of methane: This value pertains to the phase change of methane from liquid to gas and does not directly relate to bond formation.
  • First four ionization energies of carbon and electron gain enthalpy of hydrogen: These values are related to the energy changes involved in ionization and electron affinity, which are not directly relevant to bond formation in this context.

In summary, to determine the average energy for C-H bond formation, the most critical information required is the dissociation energy of H2 and the enthalpy of sublimation of carbon. These values will allow you to accurately calculate the bond energies involved in the formation of methane.