Chemistry 30

FAQ | Formulas & Tables | Glossary | Home | Lab Storage | Site Map
Thermodynamics: Unit Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources

 

Kinetics: Unit Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources
Equilibrium: Unit Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources
Solutions: Unit Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources
Acids & Bases: Module Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources
Redox Reactions: Module Index | Practice Problems | Assignments | Student Lab | Research Ideas | Teacher Resources

 

subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link | subglobal7 link
subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link | subglobal8 link

Thermodynamics

2.7 The Stability of Compounds

 

The stability of a compound concerns how readily it breaks down. You can predict stability by knowing the heat of formation, ΔHfo of the compound if you keep in mind that the reverse of the formation reaction describes how readily the compound decomposes into its elements.

Follow along carefully with these examples:

1.

If ΔHfo is large and negative, energy is released when the compound is formed.

For example, ΔHfo for MgO(s) is -601.7 kJ. Thus:

Mg(s) + ½O2 → MgO(s) + 601.7 kJ

Conversely, energy is required to decompose the compound. The decomposition reaction is the reverse of the formation reaction, and thus will be:

MgO(s) + 601.7 kJ → Mg(s) + ½O2

Notice that when we reverse an equation, the energy term moves to the other side of the equation. This should make sense to you, and will be important to understand.

Since a large amount of energy must be supplied for MgO to break down into its elements (601.7 kJ), we conclude that MgO is a stable compound. If a sample of MgO were sitting on your desk, it would remain as MgO and not break down into solid magnesium and oxygen gas.

   
2.

If ΔHfo is small and negative (only slightly exothermic), little energy is required to decompose the compound. These compounds are often unstable & decompose easily.

Let's look at HBr(g) as an example. ΔHfo for this compound is -36.4 kJ. Our equation looks like this:

½ H2(g) + ½ Br2(g) → HBr(g) + 36.4 kJ

Again, stability of a compound refers to the reverse of the formation reaction, or

HBr(g) + 36.4 kJ → ½ H2(g) + ½ Br2(g)

Since only a small amount of energy (36.4 kJ) is required for this reaction to occur, it is possible that this compound will break down spontaneously on its own. We therefore conclude that HBr is likely an unstable compound.

   
3.

Finally, if ΔHfo is positive (endothermic), the compound is likely to be unstable.

ΔHfo for CS2 is +117.4 kJ. The heat of formation reaction:

C(s) + 2 S(s) + 117.4 kJ → CS2(g)

Reversing this to see the decomposition reaction:

CS2(g) → C(s) + 2 S(s) + 117.4 kJ

we see that energy is released when this compound breaks down. Since we now know that exothermic reactions tend to occur spontaneously (Section 2-3), we conclude that CS2 is an unstable compound.

Practice

Complete these practice questions before continuing to the next section.

An example of an unstable compound, NI3

 


Source:

Petrucci, Ralph H., William S. Harwood, Geoffrey Herring. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications, Eight Edition. Prentice Hall.

Credits | Central iSchool | Sask Learning | Saskatchewan Evergreen Curriculum | Updated: 22-May-2006