FACTFILE:

GCE CHEMISTRY
4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to: 3. First ionisation energy–this is the energy
required to convert one mole of gaseous
4.1.1 define and understand the term lattice enthalpy;
atoms into gaseous ions with a single positive
charge.
4.1.2 construct Born-Haber cycles and carry out
associated calculations, such as the halides
eg  Na(g) → Na(g) + e–
and oxides of Groups I and II; and
4. First electron affinity – this is the enthalpy
4.1.3 d
 efine and understand the enthalpy changes
change when one mole of gaseous atoms is
associated with the dissolving of ionic
converted into gasesous ions with a single
compounds in water, and carry out associated
negative charge.
calculations
eg Cl(g)  e– → Cl–(g)
Born-Haber cycles Note that 2Cl(g) + 2e– → 2Cl–(g) is 2 x electron
A Born-Haber cycle is an energy cycle based on affinity of chlorine
Hess’s law. To draw a Born-Haber cycle you must
recall and understand the definitions for the For the formation of ions X2– the second electron
following. affinity values must be considered.

1. Enthalpy of atomisation (ΔaH⦵ )is the Second electron affinity – this is the enthalpy
enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous change when one mole of gaseous ions with a
atoms is formed from the element in its single negative charge is converted into gasesous
standard state. ions with a 2 - charge.

eg  Na(s) → Na(g) These values are positive since an electron is being

½Cl2(g) → Cl(g) gained by a species that is already negatively
charged O–(g)  e– → O2–(g)
2. Bond enthalpy/ Bond dissociation enthalpy
is the energy needed to break a one mole of a 5. Lattice enthalpy – the enthalpy change when
specific bond one mole of an ionic compound is converted to
gaseous ions (endothermic)
eg  Cl2(g) → 2Cl(g)
eg. NaCl(s)→ Na(g)  Cl–(g)
Bond dissociation is twice the enthalpy of
atomisation for diatomic elements. This is an endothermic reaction since energy is
needed to overcome the attractive forces between
the ions and separate them. 1
FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

6. Standard Enthalpy of formation( ΔfH⦵) is

the enthalpy change when one mole of a
compound is formed from its elements under
standard conditions.

Lattice energy cannot be found by experiment

and so is calculated using a Born Haber cycle
using other quantities which can be found
experimentally.

A Born-Haber cycle for sodium chloride, with each

energy value (in kJ mol-1) inserted, is shown;

Na+(g) + e¯ + CI(g)
-364 first electron
+121 enthalpy of affinity of
atomisation Na+(g) + CI¯(g) chlorine
of chlorine
Na+(g) + e¯ + ½CI2(g)

+500 first ionisation

energy of sodium
energy

lattice
Na(g) + ½CI2(g) ethalpy
of
enthalpy of
+108 atomisation
sodium
chloride
of sodium
Na(s) + ½CI2(g)
enthalpy
of formation of -411
sodium chloride NaCI(s)

The endothermic reactions absorb energy and

the arrows point upwards on the energy axis. The
exothermic reactions release energy and point
downwards on the energy axis.

This cycle can be used to calculate the lattice

enthalpy. Go from the bottom of the lattice
enthalpy cycle to the top the other way round the
cycle.

+411 + 108 +500 +121 -364 = lattice enthalpy

+776 kJ mol-1 = lattice enthalpy

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

Example Born-Haber cycle for a

Group 2 halide
Draw a Born-Haber for magnesium chloride and use
the enthalpy values in the table below to calculate
the value for the first electron affinity of chlorine.

Enthalpy change Value in kJ mol-1

Standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium chloride -642
Standard enthalpy of atomisation of magnesium +150
First ionisation energy of magnesium +736
Second ionisation energy of magnesium +1450
Standard atomisation energy of chlorine +121
Lattice enthalpy of magnesium chloride +2492

Remember when drawing the cycle for a Group

II halide that the standard atomisation energy
multiplied by two as there are two chlorine atoms
required. The first electron affinity is also multiplied
by two, for two chloride ions.

Mg2+(g) + 2CI(g) + 2e–

2x first electron
2x enthalpy of
affinity of chlorine
atomisation of
Mg2+(g) + CI2(g) + 2e– chlorine Mg2+ (g) + 2CI–(g)

second ionisation
energy of
magnesium
Mg+(g)+ CI2(g) + e–
first ionisation
energy of
magnesium lattice
Mg(g) + CI2(g) enthalpy of
MgCl2

enthalpy of
attomisation of
magnesium
Mg(s) + CI2(g)

enthalpy
of formation
of MgCI2

Mg CI2(s)

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

The first electron affinity may be calculated using Example Born-Haber cycle for a
the cycle. You must take into account the direction Group 2 oxide
of the arrows, if the direction is reversed then the
negative of the values must be taken Draw a Born-Haber for magnesium oxide and use
the enthalpy values in the table below to calculate
lattice enthalpy of MgCl2 = - (enthalpy of formation the value for the lattice enthalpy of magnesium
of MgCl2) + (enthalpy of atomisation of Mg) + (first oxide.
ionisation energy of Mg) + (second ionisation
energy of Mg) + 2 x (enthalpy of atomisation of Cl) +
2 x (first electron affinity of Cl)

+ 2492 = - (-642) + (+150) + (+736) + (+1450) +

2(+121) + 2 x first electron affinity

2 x first electron affinity = 2492 - 642 - 150 - 736 -

1450 - 242 = -728

First electron affinity = -728/2 = -364 kJ mol-1

Enthalpy change Value in kJ mol-1

Standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide -602
Standard enthalpy of atomisation of magnesium +150
First ionisation energy of magnesium +736
Second ionisation energy of magnesium +1450
Standard atomisation energy of oxygen +248
First electron affinity of oxygen -142
Second electron affinity of oxygen +844

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

Mg2+(g) + O2–(g)
second
Mg2+(g) + O(g) + 2e– electron
enthalpy of first electron affinity affinity of
atomisation of of oxygen oxygen
oxygen
Mg (g) + O–(g) + e–
2+

Mg2+(g) + ½ O2(g) + 2e–

second ionisation
energy of Mg

Mg+(g) + ½ O2(g) + e– Lattice

enthalpy
of
MgO
first ionisation
energy of Mg

Mg(g) + ½ O2(g)
enthalpy of
Mg(s) + ½ O2(g) atomisation of Mg

enthalpy
of formation
of MgO
MgO(s)

This cycle is slightly different as it includes the second electron affinity of oxygen, which is endothermic.

Lattice enthalpy = -(enthalpy of formation of MgO) + (enthalpy of atomisation of Mg)+ (first ionisation
ionisation energy of Mg) + (second ionisation energy of Mg) + (enthalpy of atomisation of oxygen)+ (first
electron affinity of oxygen) + (second electron affinity of oxygen)
Lattice enthalpy = - (-602) + (+150) + (+736) + (1450) + (+248) + (-142) + (+844)
Lattice enthalpy = +3888 kJ mol-1

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

Dissolving ionic compounds in Enthalpy of hydration – the enthalpy change

when one mole of gaseous ions is converted
water to one mole of aqueous ions. ( this is called the
When an ionic compound dissolves in water two solvation energy if the solvent is not water)
processes occur
Na(g) → Na(aq)
1. E
 nergy has to be taken in to break up the lattice Cl– (g) → Cl– (aq)
and separate the positive and negative ions. This
is the lattice enthalpy Enthalpy of solution is the enthalpy change
when one mole of a solute dissolves in water.
2. The ions become surrounded by solvent and
bonds form - energy is released when these ions NaCl(s) → Na (aq)  Cl– (aq)
form bonds with water molecules. This is called
the hydration enthalpy Enthalpy of solution = lattice enthalpy  enthalpy
of hydration
The balance of the break-up of the ionic lattice
and the bonds forming with water determines the Example: Calculate the enthalpy of solution of
enthalpy of solution. sodium chloride

Enthalpy change Value in kJ mol-1

Lattice enthalpy of sodium chloride +776
Hydration enthalpy of Na -407
Hydration enthalpy of Cl– -364

A typical enthalpy cycle for sodium chloride is shown

enthalpy of
solution of
NaCI(s) NaCI
Na (aq) + CI–(aq)
+

hydration
lattice enthalpy hydration
enthalpy for sodium enthalpy for
of NaCI ion chloride ion

Na (g) + CI–(g)
+

Enthalpy of solution of NaCl =  (+776)  (-407)  (-364) = +5 kJ mol-1

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

Revision Questions

1 The Born-Haber cycle for calcium oxide is shown below:

Ca2(g)  O2–(g)
–
Ca2(g)  O(g)  2e R

Q Ca2(g)  ½O2(g)  2e–

P Ca(g)  ½O2(g)  e–
S
Ca(g)  ½O2(g)

Ca(s)  ½O2(g)
CaO(s)

Which one of the following is a correct statement about the cycle?

A The electron affinity of oxygen is Q

B The second ionisation enthalpy of calcium is P
D The enthalpy of formation of calcium oxide is S
D The bond dissociation enthalpy of oxygen is R

2 All of the chlorides form solutions when added to water. Sodium chloride dissolves in water by
an overall endothermic process. It is explained by the following:

The NaCl(s) separates into its gaseous ions.

NaCl(s) → Na(g)  Cl–(g) �H1 = 776k

The gaseous ions dissolve to form aqueous ions.

Na(g) Cl–(g)  aq → Na(aq)  Cl–(aq) �H2 = 771kJ

(i) What is the name for the enthalpy value �H1?

[1]

(ii) What is the name for the enthalpy value �H2?

[1]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

(iii) �H3 is the enthalpy of solution. Draw a labelled diagram to show the relationship between
�H1, �H2, �H3.

[3]

(iv) Calculate the value of �H3.

[1]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

3 A Born-Haber cycle for potassium iodide is shown below. The lattice enthalpy is labelled.
Other enthalpy changes are shown by the letters A to E.

K(g)  e–  l(g)

D
C
–
K (g)  l (g)

K(g)  e–  ½l2(s)

K(g)  ½l2(s)

Lattice enthalpy
A

K(s)  ½l2(s)

Kl(s)

a) For the following questions state which letter (A to E) represents the enthalpy changes:
Standard enthalpy of formation of potassium iodide

[1]

First electron affinity of iodine

[1]

First ionisation energy of potassium

[1]

Enthalpy of atomisation of potassium

[1]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

b) Calculate the lattice enthalpy of potassium iodide.

kJ mol-1
A +89.5
B +420.0
C +106.6
D -295.4
E -327.6

kJ mol-1[2]

c) (i) P
 otassium chloride has a lattice enthalpy of 710kJ mol-1 and that for potassium
bromide is 679kJ mol-1. State three other enthalpy changes in a Born-Haber cycle for
these compounds which would be different.

[3]

d) Potassium chloride is very soluble in water.

(i) W
 rite an equation, including state symbols, to represent potassium chloride dissolving in
water.

[2]

(ii) T he enthalpy change of hydration for the potassium ion is -305 kJ mol-1 and value
for the chloride ion is -384kJ mol-1. Using the lattice enthalpy value stated in (c)(i)
for potassium chloride, calculate the enthalpy change when one mole of potassium
chloride is dissolved in water.

[2]

(iii) Which one of the following equations represents the lattice enthalpy of sodium chloride?.

A NaCl(aq) → Na(g)  Cl(g)

B NaCl(aq) → Na(g)  Cl-(g)
D NaCl(s) → Na(aq)  Cl-(aq)
D NaCl(s) → Na(g)  Cl-(q)

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

4 Magnesium chloride is a water-soluble ionic compound formed from magnesium and chlorine.

a) (i) Complete the Born-Haber cycle for magnesium chloride.

Mg2+(g)  2Cl-(g)

Mg(s)  Cl2(g)

MgCl2(s)
[4]

(iii) Using the data given below, calculate the first electron affinity of chlorine.

Standard enthalpy of formation for magnesium chloride

kJmol-1
Standard enthalpy of formation for magnesium chloride -642
Lattice enthalpy for magnesium chloride +2493
Atomisation enthalpy of chlorine +121
First ionisation enthalpy of magnesium +736
Second ionisation enthalpy of magnesium +1450
Atomisation enthalpy of magnesium +150

[2]

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FACTFILE: GCE CHEMISTRY / 4.1 LATTICE ENTHALPY

b) Give the electron structure of:

magnesium ions [1]

chloride ions [1]

c) Magnesium chloride dissolves in water and has an enthalpy of solution of -155kJmol-1.

Define the term enthalpy of solution.

[2]

© CCEA 2016 12