The enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexene is -119.5 kJ mol⁻¹. If resonance energy of benzene is -150.4 kJ mol⁻¹, its…

60 2006 AIPMT-PRE ThermodynamicsResonance Energy Medium
The enthalpy of hydrogenation of cyclohexene is $-119.5$ kJ mol$^{-1}$. If resonance energy of benzene is $-150.4$ kJ mol$^{-1}$, its enthalpy of hydrogenation would be :-
A $-508.9$ kJ mol$^{-1}$
B $-208.1$ kJ mol$^{-1}$
C $-269.9$ kJ mol$^{-1}$
D $-358.5$ kJ mol$^{-1}$

Detailed Solution

Cyclohexene has one $C=C$ bond; its enthalpy of hydrogenation is $-119.5$ kJ mol$^{-1}$.
If benzene were cyclohexatriene with three isolated double bonds, its calculated enthalpy of hydrogenation would be $3 \times (-119.5) = -358.5$ kJ mol$^{-1}$
Benzene is more stable than this hypothetical structure by its resonance energy, 150.4 kJ mol$^{-1}$, so less heat is released on its hydrogenation.
Resonance energy = observed $\Delta H$ $-$ calculated $\Delta H$ (taken with the sign convention of the question)
$-150.4 = -358.5 - x$
$x = -358.5 + 150.4$
$x = -208.1$ kJ mol$^{-1}$

Thermodynamics in past papers

63 questions from this chapter have appeared across 21 exam years.

Keep going

Practise Thermodynamics All 63 questions This chapter in 2006 AIPMT-PRE