When calculating enthalpy of reaction values, we use the "products minus reactants" mathematical model.  Which explanation of this model is most correct? A) The products are coming into existence, thus we use their enthalpy of formation.  The reactants are ceasing to exist, thus we use the opposite of their enthalpy of formation.   B) "Products minus reactants" is an equation, not a model, and thus tells us nothing about the reaction.   C) We model the chemical reaction as taking reactants and turning them into products.  The exact steps don't matter as long as it comes to the product eventually.  That is why we use "products minus reactants."   D) We model the reaction as taking reactant molecules and dispersing them in to pieces (the opposite of the formation reaction of the reactants) and taking those pieces and condensing them down into products (the same as the formation reaction for those products.)  Thus we take the negative of the enthalpy of formation for the reactants and add it to the enthalpy of formation of the products.  This is the equivaent of "products minus reactants."

Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
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Chapter5: Principles Of Chemical Reactivity: Energy And Chemical Reactions
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When calculating enthalpy of reaction values, we use the "products minus reactants" mathematical model.  Which explanation of this model is most correct?

A) The products are coming into existence, thus we use their enthalpy of formation.  The reactants are ceasing to exist, thus we use the opposite of their enthalpy of formation.
 
B) "Products minus reactants" is an equation, not a model, and thus tells us nothing about the reaction.
 
C) We model the chemical reaction as taking reactants and turning them into products.  The exact steps don't matter as long as it comes to the product eventually.  That is why we use "products minus reactants."
 
D) We model the reaction as taking reactant molecules and dispersing them in to pieces (the opposite of the formation reaction of the reactants) and taking those pieces and condensing them down into products (the same as the formation reaction for those products.)  Thus we take the negative of the enthalpy of formation for the reactants and add it to the enthalpy of formation of the products.  This is the equivaent of "products minus reactants."
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