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Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
Chapter 9, Problem 114c

Sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) reacts slowly with O2 to form sulfur tetrafluoride monoxide (OSF4) according to the following unbalanced reaction: SF4(g) + O2(g) → OSF4(g) The O atom and the four F atoms in OSF4 are bonded to a central S atom. (c) Use average bond enthalpies (Table 8.3) to estimate the enthalpy of the reaction. Is it endothermic or exothermic?

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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 one mole of a specific type of bond in a gaseous substance. It is a crucial concept in thermochemistry as it helps estimate the energy changes during chemical reactions. By using average bond enthalpies, one can calculate the total energy required to break bonds in reactants and the energy released when new bonds are formed in products.
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Enthalpy Change (ΔH)

The enthalpy change (ΔH) of a reaction is the difference in enthalpy between the products and the reactants. It indicates whether a reaction absorbs heat (endothermic, ΔH > 0) or releases heat (exothermic, ΔH < 0). Calculating ΔH involves summing the bond enthalpies of the bonds broken and formed, providing insight into the energy dynamics of the reaction.
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Exothermic vs. Endothermic Reactions

Exothermic reactions release energy to the surroundings, often in the form of heat, resulting in a temperature increase in the environment. In contrast, endothermic reactions absorb energy, leading to a temperature decrease. Understanding the nature of the reaction in question helps predict its behavior and the energy changes involved, which is essential for determining the reaction's enthalpy.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The energy-level diagram in Figure 9.36 shows that the sideways overlap of a pair of p orbitals produces two molecular orbitals, one bonding and one antibonding. In ethylene there is a pair of electrons in the bonding π orbital between the two carbons. Absorption of a photon of the appropriate wavelength can result in promotion of one of the bonding electrons from the p2p to the p*2p molecular orbital. (c) Is the C¬C bond in ethylene stronger or weaker in the excited state than in the ground state? Why?

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Textbook Question

Sulfur tetrafluoride 1SF42 reacts slowly with O2 to form sulfur tetrafluoride monoxide 1OSF42 according to the following unbalanced reaction: SF41g2 + O21g2¡OSF41g2 The O atom and the four F atoms in OSF4 are bonded to a central S atom. (a) Balance the equation.

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Textbook Question

Sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) reacts slowly with O2 to form sulfur tetrafluoride monoxide (OSF4) according to the following unbalanced reaction: SF4(g) + O2(g) → OSF4(g) The O atom and the four F atoms in OSF4 are bonded to a central S atom. (b) Write a Lewis structure of OSF4 in which the formal charges of all atoms are zero.

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Textbook Question

Sulfur tetrafluoride 1SF42 reacts slowly with O2 to form sulfur

tetrafluoride monoxide 1OSF42 according to the following

unbalanced reaction:

SF41g2 + O21g2¡OSF41g2

The O atom and the four F atoms in OSF4 are bonded to a

central S atom.

(e) For each of the molecules you drew in part (d), state how many

fluorines are equatorial and how many are axial.

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Textbook Question
The phosphorus trihalides 1PX32 show the following variation in the bond angle X¬P¬X: PF3, 96.3°; PCl3, 100.3°; PBr3, 101.0°; PI3, 102.0°. The trend is generally attributed to the change in the electronegativity of the halogen. (b) What is the general trend in the X¬P¬X angle as the halide electronegativity increases?
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Textbook Question
Many compounds of the transition-metal elements contain direct bonds between metal atoms. We will assume that the z-axis is defined as the metal–metal bond axis. (d) Sketch the energylevel diagram for the Sc2 molecule, assuming that only the 3d orbital from part (a) is important.
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