use bond energies (\(\Delta H\) positive, i.e. bond breaking) to calculate enthalpy change of reaction, \(\Delta H_r\)
describe the relative thermal stabilities of the hydrogen halides and explain these in terms of bond strengths
(a) define the terms: - bond energy as the energy required to break one mole of a particular covalent bond in the gaseous state - bond length as the internuclear distance of two covalently bonded atoms (b) use bond energy values and the concept of bond length to compare the reactivity of covalent molecules