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The Energetics of Transformation

An exploration into the energy required to transition matter from a liquid to a gaseous state โ€“ the Enthalpy of Vaporization.

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Definition

The Core Concept

In thermodynamics, the enthalpy of vaporization (symbol \u2206Hvap), also known as the latent heat of vaporization or heat of evaporation, quantifies the energy required to convert a specific amount of a liquid substance into a gas at a given pressure and temperature. This transformation, known as vaporization or evaporation, involves overcoming the intermolecular forces present in the liquid phase.

Dependence on Conditions

The enthalpy of vaporization is not a fixed value; it is intrinsically dependent on the specific pressure and temperature at which the phase change occurs. While often quoted at the substance's normal boiling point, tabulated values are frequently adjusted to standard conditions like 298 K (25 ยฐC). The value diminishes as temperature increases, ultimately reaching zero at the substance's critical temperature, beyond which the liquid and gas phases become indistinguishable.

Intermolecular Forces

A significant portion of the enthalpy of vaporization is attributed to the energy needed to overcome the attractive forces between molecules in the liquid state. Substances with strong intermolecular forces, such as water with its extensive hydrogen bonding, exhibit high enthalpies of vaporization. Conversely, substances with weak forces, like helium, have very low values.

Units of Measurement

Standard Units

The enthalpy of vaporization is commonly expressed in units that reflect energy per amount of substance. The most frequent units are:

  • Joules per mole (J/mol)
  • Kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol): This is the standard molar enthalpy of vaporization.

Alternative Units

Depending on the context and field of study, other units may be encountered:

  • Joules per gram (J/g) or Kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg): These represent the specific heat of vaporization.
  • Older or specialized units like kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol), calories per gram (cal/g), and British thermal units per pound (Btu/lb) are sometimes still used.

Thermodynamic Principles

Energy Balance

The enthalpy of vaporization (\u2206Hvap) can be understood through the first law of thermodynamics. It equals the change in internal energy (\u2206Uvap) plus the work done by the system against the surrounding pressure (p) as the volume expands (\u2206V). Mathematically:

ฮ”H_vap = ฮ”U_vap + p * ฮ”V

This equation highlights that vaporization requires energy not only to increase the internal energy (breaking molecular bonds/interactions) but also to perform mechanical work by expanding against external pressure.

Entropy and Equilibrium

At the boiling point (Tb), the liquid and gas phases are in equilibrium (\u2206vG = 0). This relationship connects enthalpy and entropy changes:

ฮ”_vS = S_gas - S_liquid = ฮ”_vH / T_b

This indicates that the increase in entropy during vaporization is directly proportional to the heat absorbed and inversely proportional to the boiling temperature. Since entropy generally increases with temperature, the gas phase is favored at higher temperatures.

Electrolyte Solutions

Estimating the enthalpy of vaporization for electrolyte solutions requires specialized thermodynamic models. Advanced approaches like the Pitzer model or the TCPC model are employed to accurately calculate these values, considering the complex interactions between ions and solvent molecules.

Enthalpies of Vaporization: Elements

The table below presents the molar enthalpies of vaporization (in kJ/mol) for various chemical elements, measured at their respective normal boiling points. Note the significant variations reflecting differences in metallic bonding strength and atomic interactions.

Enthalpies of vaporization of the elements (kJ/mol)
123456789101112131415161718
Group โ†’
โ†“ Period
1 H
0.90
He
0.08
2 Li
136
Be
292
B
508
C
715
N
5.57
O
6.82
F
6.62
Ne
1.71
3 Na
97.4
Mg
128
Al
284
Si
359
P
12.4
S
45
Cl
20.4
Ar
6.53
4 K
76.9
Ca
155
Sc
333
Ti
425
V
444
Cr
339
Mn
221
Fe
340
Co
377
Ni
379
Cu
300
Zn
115
Ga
256
Ge
334
As
32.4
Se
95.5
Br
30.0
Kr
9.08
5 Rb
75.8
Sr
141
Y
390
Zr
573
Nb
690
Mo
617
Tc
585
Ru
619
Rh
494
Pd
358
Ag
254
Cd
99.9
In
232
Sn
296
Sb
193
Te
114
I
41.6
Xe
12.6
6 Cs
63.9
Ba
140
* Lu
414
Hf
648
Ta
733
W
807
Re
704
Os
678
Ir
564
Pt
510
Au
342
Hg
59.1
Tl
165
Pb
179
Bi
179
Po
103
At
54.4
Rn
18.1
7 Fr
65
Ra
113
** Lr
n/a
Rf
n/a
Db
n/a
Sg
n/a
Bh
n/a
Hs
n/a
Mt
n/a
Ds
n/a
Rg
n/a
Cn
n/a
Nh
n/a
Fl
n/a
Mc
n/a
Lv
n/a
Ts
n/a
Og
n/a

* La
400
Ce
398
Pr
331
Nd
289
Pm
289
Sm
172
Eu
176
Gd
301
Tb
391
Dy
280
Ho
251
Er
280
Tm
191
Yb
129
** Ac
400
Th
514
Pa
481
U
417
Np
336
Pu
333
Am
n/a
Cm
n/a
Bk
n/a
Cf
n/a
Es
n/a
Fm
n/a
Md
n/a
No
n/a
Enthalpy in kJ/mol, measured at their respective normal boiling points. Dashed/dotted borders indicate estimated or radioactive elements.

Enthalpies of Vaporization: Common Substances

A comparative look at the enthalpy of vaporization for several common compounds, illustrating the wide range of energy requirements for phase transition.

Compound Boiling point, at normal pressure Heat of vaporization
(K) (ยฐC) (ยฐF) (kJ/mol) (J/g)
Acetone 32956133 31.300538.9
Aluminium 279225194566 294.010500
Ammonia 240โˆ’33.34โˆ’28 23.351371
Butane 272โ€“274โˆ’130โ€“34 21.0320
Diethyl ether 307.834.694.3 26.17353.1
Ethanol 35278.37173 38.6841
Hydrogen (parahydrogen) 20.271โˆ’252.879โˆ’423.182 0.8992446.1
Iron 313428625182 3406090
Isopropyl alcohol 35682.6181 44732.2
Methane 112โˆ’161โˆ’259 8.170480.6
Methanol 33864.7148 35.21104
Propane 231โˆ’42โˆ’44 15.7356
Phosphine 185โˆ’87.7โˆ’126 14.6429.4
Water 373.15100212 40.662257

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Enthalpy of vaporization Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation in thermodynamics, chemistry, or engineering. Always refer to official documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific applications or research needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

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