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Energetics II

Born-Haber cycles and electron affinity

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

First and second electron affinities and atomisation enthalpy, building Born-Haber cycles for sodium chloride and magnesium chloride to find lattice energy, the perfect ionic model and what agreement with experimental values shows, and how polarisation gives covalent character.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Process

Which terms make up a Born-Haber cycle?

Key term

Why is the first electron affinity of an element exothermic?

Key term

Why is the second electron affinity of oxygen endothermic?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define the first electron affinity of an element.

    Model answer

    The enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous atoms each gain one electron to form one mole of gaseous 1− ions, under standard conditions.

  2. 2

    Why is the first electron affinity of an element exothermic?

    Model answer

    The incoming electron is attracted by the nucleus of the neutral atom, so energy is released as it is drawn in.

  3. 3

    Why is the second electron affinity of oxygen endothermic?

    Model answer

    The electron is being added to an ion that already carries a negative charge, so work must be done against the repulsion between them.

  4. 4

    Define the standard enthalpy change of atomisation of an element.

    Model answer

    The enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous atoms is formed from the element in its standard state.

  5. 5

    What is a Born-Haber cycle used for?

    Model answer

    To find a lattice energy indirectly, by applying Hess's law to a cycle of enthalpy changes that can each be measured directly.

  6. 6

    List the enthalpy changes needed to construct a Born-Haber cycle for sodium chloride.

    Model answer

    The enthalpy of formation of sodium chloride, the atomisation enthalpies of sodium and chlorine, the first ionisation energy of sodium, the first electron affinity of chlorine, and the lattice energy.

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AAtomisation turns each element into gaseous atoms.
BIonisation energy removes electrons from the metal atoms.
CElectron affinity adds electrons to the non-metal atoms.

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Anode means electrode where oxidation occurs.
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