Beginner Chemistry: Enthalpy Change and Lattice Energy

Did you know that the Born-Haber cycle incorporates all the energy stages required to transform elements into ionic compounds, which aids in calculating the lattice energies? This course covers enthalpy change and lattice energy and the methods used to calculate both. It offers multiple simple examples and exercises to clarify these concepts. We begin by exploring enthalpy change and how exothermic and endothermic reactions provide negative and positive values to enthalpy change. You will also discover how to calculate the enthalpy change of combustion by applying Hess's law.

After that, you will learn how to identify the enthalpy change of a reaction based on the type of the reaction, such as enthalpy change of formation, combustion, solution and hydration. You will learn the process of determining the enthalpy changes and the utilisation of average bond energies to compute the enthalpy change of a process. The course compares the differences between lattice enthalpy and lattice energy and discusses electron affinity and how to write equations for the first and the second electron affinities. Then you will learn how to analyse reaction energies from a Born-Haber cycle, such as lattice energy, the enthalpy change of atomisation and ionisation. We examine all the steps required to construct a lattice cycle and use them to determine the lattice energy.

Next, we demonstrate how the value of lattice energy varies with ionic radius and charge of ions. We will also discuss the factors influencing ion polarisation: the size of the cations and anions and the number of charges. Finally, the course investigates the thermal stability of group 2 carbonates, which decompose by heat into their oxides and carbon dioxide, and nitrates that decompose into nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. You will study the solubility of group 2 sulphates and the variables that cause it to decrease as the group progresses. This course is the third in our 'Beginner Chemistry' series. Don't delay. Enrol today and keep abreast of your learning.