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Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry – Physical Chemistry (A Level)

Topic 23
Chemical
Energetics

Topic 23 covers lattice energy and the enthalpy change of atomisation, first electron affinity and its trends in Groups 16 and 17, Born–Haber cycles with calculations, the effect of ionic charge and radius on lattice energy, enthalpies of hydration and solution with energy cycles, entropy as the number of arrangements of particles and energy, the sign of entropy changes for changes of state, temperature and gas molecules, ΔS from standard entropies, and the Gibbs equation ΔG⦵ = ΔH⦵ − TΔS⦵ with feasibility and the effect of temperature.

Exam Paper
Paper 4
9701 A Level
Learning Outcomes
23.1 – 23.4
4 sections covered
Sub-topics
7 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Cambridge
9701 (2025 onwards)

Revision Notes

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Summary Map

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Lattice Energy Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 23 Lattice energy

The whole section on one A4 page: atomisation, lattice energy, electron affinity trends, Born–Haber cycles, 2+ ions, and charge and radius.

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Solution and Hydration Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 23 Enthalpies of solution and hydration

The whole section on one A4 page: enthalpies of solution and hydration, the solution cycle, energy level diagrams, charge and radius, and the Group 2 trends.

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Entropy and Gibbs Free Energy Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 23 Entropy and Gibbs free energy

The whole section on one A4 page: entropy, state and temperature, the sign of ΔS, ΔS and ΔG, temperature and feasibility, and ΔG against T.

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Specification

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23.1.1

  1. a

    define and use the term enthalpy change of atomisation, ΔHat

    Revise
  2. b

    define and use the term lattice energy, ΔHlatt (the change from gas phase ions to solid lattice)

    Revise

23.1.2

  1. a

    define and use the term first electron affinity, EA

    Revise
  2. b

    explain the factors affecting the electron affinities of elements

    Revise
  3. c i

    describe and explain the trends in the electron affinities of the Group 16 elements

    Revise
  4. c ii

    describe and explain the trends in the electron affinities of the Group 17 elements

    Revise

23.1.3

  1. 23.1.3

    construct and use Born–Haber cycles for ionic solids (limited to +1 and +2 cations, –1 and –2 anions)

    Revise

23.1.4

  1. 23.1.4

    carry out calculations involving Born–Haber cycles

    Revise

23.1.5

  1. a

    explain, in qualitative terms, the effect of ionic charge on the numerical magnitude of a lattice energy

    Revise
  2. b

    explain, in qualitative terms, the effect of ionic radius on the numerical magnitude of a lattice energy

    Revise

23.2.1

  1. a

    define and use the term enthalpy change of hydration, ΔHhyd

    Revise
  2. b

    define and use the term enthalpy change of solution, ΔHsol

    Revise

23.2.2

  1. 23.2.2

    construct and use an energy cycle involving enthalpy change of solution, lattice energy and enthalpy change of hydration

    Revise

23.2.3

  1. 23.2.3

    carry out calculations involving the energy cycles in 23.2.2

    Revise

23.2.4

  1. a

    explain, in qualitative terms, the effect of ionic charge on the numerical magnitude of an enthalpy change of hydration

    Revise
  2. b

    explain, in qualitative terms, the effect of ionic radius on the numerical magnitude of an enthalpy change of hydration

    Revise

23.3.1

  1. 23.3.1

    define the term entropy, S, as the number of possible arrangements of the particles and their energy in a given system

    Revise

23.3.2

  1. a

    predict and explain the sign of the entropy changes that occur during a change in state, e.g. melting, boiling and dissolving (and their reverse)

    Revise
  2. b

    predict and explain the sign of the entropy changes that occur during a temperature change

    Revise
  3. c

    predict and explain the sign of the entropy changes that occur during a reaction in which there is a change in the number of gaseous molecules

    Revise

23.3.3

  1. 23.3.3

    calculate the entropy change for a reaction, ΔS, given the standard entropies, S⦵, of the reactants and products, ΔS⦵ = ΣS⦵(products) – ΣS⦵(reactants) (use of ΔS = ΔSsurr + ΔSsys is not required)

    Revise

23.4.1

  1. 23.4.1

    state and use the Gibbs equation ΔG⦵ = ΔH⦵ – TΔS⦵

    Revise

23.4.2

  1. 23.4.2

    perform calculations using the equation ΔG⦵ = ΔH⦵ – TΔS⦵

    Revise

23.4.3

  1. 23.4.3

    state whether a reaction or process will be feasible by using the sign of ΔG⦵

    Revise

23.4.4

  1. 23.4.4

    predict the effect of temperature change on the feasibility of a reaction, given standard enthalpy and entropy changes

    Revise