Bond Energy
Contents
Key Stage 4 Higher
Meaning
Bond Energy is the energy needed to break a chemical bond between two atoms.
About Bond Energy
- When chemical bonds are formed energy is released to the surroundings increasing the temperature. An exothermic process]].
- To break chemical bonds energy is needed to separate the atoms, decreasing the temperature of the surroundings. An endothermic process]].
Examples
Some common bond energies are given in the table below.
| Bond | Energy in kJ/mol |
| H-H | 436 |
| O=O | 498 |
| N≡N | 941 |
| C-C | 347 |
| C=C | 614 |
| C≡C | 839 |
| C-H | 413 |
| O-H | 464 |
| C=O | 799 |
| Cl-Cl | 243 |
| H-Cl | 432 |
| N-H | 391 |
These can be used to calculate the energy released per mole in a chemical reaction.
Example 1
 |
| In the reaction between Methane and Oxygen the chemical bonds in the reactants must be broken first before the bonds in the products are formed. |
There are 4 C-H bonds and 2 O=O bonds.
4 x 413 + 2 x 498 = 2648kJ
Therefore 2648kJ/mol are needed to break the bonds in the reactants.
There are 2 C=O bonds and 4 O-H bonds.
2 x 799 + 4 x 464 = 3454kJ
Therefore 3454kJ/mol is released when the bonds in the products form.
Once the reaction is complete 806kJ will be released.
Example 2
 |
| In the reaction between Hydrogen and Nitrogen the chemical bonds in the reactants must be broken first before the bonds in the products are formed. |
There are 3 H-H bonds and 1 N≡N bonds.
3 x 436 + 1 x 941 = 2249kJ
Therefore 2249kJ/mol are needed to break the bonds in the reactants.
There are 6 N-H bonds.
6 x 391 = 2346kJ
Therefore 2346kJ/mol is released when the bonds in the products form.
Once the reaction is complete 97kJ will be released.
References
AQA
- Bond energies, page 63, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Bond energies, pages 133-5, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Bond energies, pages 158, 159, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Bond energies, pages 183, 184, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Bond energies, pages 235-7, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Bond energy, pages 117-119, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Edexcel
- Bond energies, page 136, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Bond energies, page 85, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Bond energies, pages 248-250, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
- Bond energy, page 147, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Bond energy, page 261, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Bonds; energy calculations, page 147, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Bonds; energy calculations, page 261, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel