Standard enthalpy of reaction

The standard enthalpy of reaction (denoted ΔrH) is the enthalpy change that occurs in a system when one mole of matter is transformed by a chemical reaction under standard conditions.

For a generic chemical reaction

vA A + −vB B + ... → vP P + vQ Q ...

the standard enthalpy of reaction ΔrH is related to the standard enthalpy of formation ΔfHo of the reactants and products by the following equation:


\Delta_\mathrm{r}H^\ominus = \sum_{B}{v_B\Delta_\mathrm{f}H^\ominus(B)}

In this equation, vB is the stoichiometric coefficient of entity B.

A similar enthalpy change is the standard enthalpy of formation, which has been determined for a vast number of substances. The enthalpy change of any reaction under any conditions can be computed, given the standard enthalpy of formation of the reactants and products.