Click on the Delta H changes sign whan a process is reversed button within the activity and analyze the relationship between the
two reactions that are displayed. The reaction that was on the screen when you started and its derivative demonstrate that the reaction enthalpy, ΔH, changes sign when a process is reversed. Consider the reaction H2O(l)→H2O(g), ΔH =44.0kJ What will ΔH be for the reaction if it is reversed?
In the reaction above, liquid water changes to gaseous water. This occurs through a process known as boiling. This process requires heat, hence the ΔH is positive.
If he reaction is reversed, we have;
H2O(g)→H2O(l)
In this reaction, gaseous water changes to liquid water. This process is known as condensation. The water vapor loses heat in this reaction. Hence ΔH would be negative but still have the same value.
