Reflecting on Enthalpy Change in Chemical Reactions
How does the heat of solution affect the enthalpy change of a reaction?
a) It increases the enthalpy change
b) It decreases the enthalpy change
c) It has no effect on the enthalpy change
d) It reverses the enthalpy change
Answer:
The correct answer is: b) It decreases the enthalpy change
When considering the enthalpy change of a chemical reaction, the heat of solution plays a crucial role. The heat of solution is the amount of heat absorbed or released when a solute dissolves in a solvent to form a solution. In the case of an exothermic reaction where heat is released, the enthalpy change (ΔH) of the reaction is equal to the negative of the heat of solution (qsoln).
This relationship is based on the principle of energy conservation in chemical reactions. The heat absorbed or released during the dissolution process affects the overall heat balance of the reaction. When the heat of solution is taken into account, it adjusts the enthalpy change accordingly. Therefore, a higher heat of solution would result in a decrease in the enthalpy change of the reaction, as the system releases more heat during the dissolution process.