Methane is a commercial source of H2 through the reaction
(I) CH4(g)+12O2(g)→CO(g)+2H2(g)
Based on the following thermochemical equations (II to IV)
(II) CH4(g)+2O2(g)→CO2(g)+2H2O(g); △H=−800 kJ
(III) CH4(g)+CO2(g)→2CO(g)+2H2(g); △H=+235 kJ
(IV) CH4(g)+H2O(g)→CO(g)+3H2(g); △H=+204 kJ
△H of equation (I) is
Hess’s Law of Constant Heat Summation:
Enthalpy change of a chemical equation is always constant whether the process occurs in a single step or several steps. In other words, the total enthalpy change in a reaction depends only upon the initial reactant and final product not upon the path.
Let say a reaction goes from A to D
A→D ΔH
A→B ΔH1
B→C ΔH2
C→D ΔH3
According to the Hess’s Law of Constant Heat Summation
ΔH=ΔH1+ΔH2+ΔH3
Chemical equations can be added or subtracted to yield the required equation.
Corresponding enthalpies are also manipulated in the same way to get the desired enthalpy.
Example:
C(s)+12O2(g)→CO(g) ΔrH
Reaction 1:
C(s)+O2(g)→CO2(g) ΔrH1
Reaction 2:
CO(g)+12O2(g)→CO2(g) ΔrH2
Now, if we reverse the reaction 2
Reaction 3:
CO2(g)→CO(g)+12O2(g) −ΔrH2
Now adding equation 1 and equation 3, we get
C(s)+12O2(g)→CO(g)
So, ΔrH=ΔrH1−ΔrH2