# State and Explain Hess’S Law of Constant Heat Summation. - Chemistry

Short Note

State and explain Hess’s law of constant heat summation.

#### Solution

1. Hess's law of constant heat summation states that," The change in enthalpy for a reaction is the same whether the reaction takes place in one or a series of steps".
2. The Hess's law is a direct consequence of fact that the enthalpy is a state function and so enthalpy change depends only on the initial and final states of the system and not on the path by which the reaction takes place.
eg. The conversion of A to C can take place directly
in a single step.
A → C,    ΔH° = ΔH1
3. The reaction can also take place in two steps for which ΔH°
values are known.
Step (1)     A → B,     ΔH° = ΔH2
Step (2)    B → C,     ΔH° = ΔH3
____________________________
Overall     A → C,     ΔH° = ΔH2 + ΔH3
4.  According to Hess's law, ΔH1 = ΔH2 + ΔH3.
The sequence of steps is represented in the figure.
Concept: Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetic - Hess’ Law of Constant Heat Summation
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