Enthalpy change of solution

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Enthalpy of solution)
Jump to: navigation, search

The enthalpy of solution, enthalpy of dissolution, or heat of solution is the enthalpy change associated with the dissolution of a substance in a solvent at constant pressure resulting in infinite dilution.

The enthalpy of solution is most often expressed in kJ/mol at constant temperature. The energy change can be regarded as being made of three parts, the endothermic breaking of bonds within the solute and within the solvent, and the formation of attractions between the solute and the solvent. An ideal solution has an enthalpy of solution of zero. For a non-ideal solution it is an excess molar quantity.


Dissolution by most gases is exothermic. That is, when a gas dissolves in a liquid solvent, energy is released as heat, warming both the system (i.e. the solution) and the surroundings. The temperature of the solution then decreases to that of the surroundings. The equilibrium, between the gas as a separate phase and the gas in solution, will therefore (by Le Châtelier's principle) shift to favour the gas going into solution as the temperature is decreased. Thus, decreasing the temperature increases the solubility of a gas. When a saturated solution of a gas is heated, gas comes out of solution.

Steps in dissolution[edit]

Dissolution can be viewed as occurring in three steps:

  1. Breaking solute-solute attractions (endothermic), see for instance lattice energy in salts.
  2. Breaking solvent-solvent attractions (endothermic), for instance that of hydrogen bonding
  3. Forming solvent-solute attractions (exothermic), in solvation.

The value of the enthalpy of solution is the sum of these individual steps. Dissolving ammonium nitrate in water is endothermic. The energy released by solvation of the ammonium ions and nitrate ions is less than the energy absorbed in breaking up the ammonium nitrate ionic lattice and the attractions between water molecules. Dissolving potassium hydroxide is exothermic, as more energy is released during solvation than is used in breaking up the solute and solvent.

Dependence on the nature of the solution[edit]

The enthalpy of solution of an ideal solution is zero by definition. For non-ideal solutions of electrolytes it is connected to the activity coefficient of the solute(s) and the temperature derivative of the relative permittivity.

 H_{dil} = \sum_i \nu_i RT ln \gamma_i (1 + \frac{T}{\epsilon}\frac{\partial \epsilon}{\partial T})
Enthalpy change of solution for some selected compounds
hydrochloric acid -74.84
ammonium nitrate +25.69
ammonia -30.50
potassium hydroxide -57.61
caesium hydroxide -71.55
sodium chloride +3.87
potassium chlorate +41.38
acetic acid -1.51
sodium hydroxide -44.51
Change in enthalpy ΔHo in kJ/mol in water at 25°C[1]

See also[edit]


External links[edit]