Skip to main content
Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 123

Use average bond enthalpies from Table 8.4 to estimate the enthalpies of the following gas-phase reactions: Reaction 1: HF1g2 + H2O1g2 Δ F-1g2 + H3O+1g2 Reaction 2: HCl1g2 + H2O1g2 Δ Cl-1g2 + H3O+1g2 Are both reactions exothermic? How do these values relate to the different strengths of hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid?

Verified Solution

Video duration:
9m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

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

Bond Enthalpy

Bond enthalpy, or bond dissociation energy, is the energy required to break a bond in a molecule in the gas phase. It is a measure of bond strength; stronger bonds have higher bond enthalpies. In chemical reactions, the difference in bond enthalpies of reactants and products can be used to estimate the overall enthalpy change of the reaction, indicating whether it is exothermic or endothermic.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:34
Enthalpy of Formation

Enthalpy Change (ΔH)

Enthalpy change (ΔH) is the heat content change of a system at constant pressure during a chemical reaction. A negative ΔH indicates that the reaction releases heat to the surroundings, classifying it as exothermic, while a positive ΔH indicates heat absorption, classifying it as endothermic. Estimating ΔH using average bond enthalpies allows chemists to predict the energy dynamics of reactions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:34
Enthalpy of Formation

Acid Strength and Ionization

The strength of an acid is determined by its ability to donate protons (H+) in solution, which is influenced by the stability of the resulting ions. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a weak acid, while hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid. The differences in acid strength can be related to the bond strength of the H-X bond (where X is the halogen), with weaker bonds leading to stronger acids due to easier ionization.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:51
Binary Acid Strengths