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Exercises · 5.3

Q.The enthalpies of all elements in their standard states are:

(i) unity
(ii) zero
(iii) < 0
(iv) different for each element
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✓ Free question

The standard enthalpy of formation of any element in its standard state is defined as zero. This is a convention that sets a reference point for all enthalpy calculations. Therefore, the correct answer is (ii) zero.

The question asks about the enthalpies of elements in their standard states. This is a fundamental concept in thermochemistry, and the answer hinges on understanding what "standard state" means and how we define enthalpy changes.

The Concept: Why Zero?

Enthalpy (HH) is a state function, but we can never measure its absolute value. We can only measure changes in enthalpy (ΔH\Delta H). To make these changes meaningful and comparable, we need a common reference point.

The Standard Enthalpy of Formation (ΔHf∘\Delta H_f^\circ) of a compound is defined as the enthalpy change when one mole of the compound is formed from its constituent elements in their standard states under standard conditions (1 bar pressure, usually 298 K).

For this definition to work, we must assign a value to the enthalpy of the elements themselves. By international convention, the standard enthalpy of formation of an element in its most stable allotropic form at 1 bar and the specified temperature is taken as zero.

Important

This is a convention, not a discovery. It's like setting sea level as zero for measuring altitude. It doesn't mean the element has no internal energy; it means we've chosen it as the baseline.

Step-by-Step Reasoning

  1. Identify the core principle. The question is about the "enthalpies of all elements in their standard states." This directly refers to the standard enthalpy of formation (ΔHf∘\Delta H_f^\circ) of the elements themselves.

  2. Recall the definition. The standard enthalpy of formation of a substance is the enthalpy change when 1 mole of that substance is formed from its elements in their standard states. For an element in its standard state, "forming it from itself" involves no chemical change.

  3. Apply the convention. Since there is no chemical reaction involved in "forming" an element from itself, the enthalpy change is zero. By definition, we set ΔHf∘=0\Delta H_f^\circ = 0 for all elements in their standard states.

  4. Consider the exceptions (the nuance). The phrase "most stable allotropic form" is crucial. For example:

    • Carbon in the form of graphite has ΔHf∘=0\Delta H_f^\circ = 0.
    • Carbon in the form of diamond has ΔHf∘=+1.9 kJ/mol\Delta H_f^\circ = +1.9 \text{ kJ/mol} (because it is not the most stable form at standard conditions).
    • Oxygen gas (O2O_2) has ΔHf∘=0\Delta H_f^\circ = 0.
    • Ozone gas (O3O_3) has ΔHf∘=+142.7 kJ/mol\Delta H_f^\circ = +142.7 \text{ kJ/mol}.
Watch out

A common mistake is to think that all forms of an element have zero enthalpy. Only the most stable form at standard conditions has ΔHf∘=0\Delta H_f^\circ = 0. Other allotropes have non-zero values.

  1. Evaluate the options.
    • (i) unity: Incorrect. The value is not 1.
    • (ii) zero: Correct. This is the standard convention.
    • (iii) < 0: Incorrect. The value is exactly zero, not negative.
    • (iv) different for each element: Incorrect. While different elements have different absolute enthalpies, the convention sets them all to zero for their standard states.
Tip

Think of it like a bank account. You can't know the total money in the world, but you can track deposits and withdrawals. Setting the "balance" of elements to zero is like opening a new account with a zero balance. All transactions (reactions) are then measured relative to that starting point.

✓Final answer

The correct option is (ii) zero.

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