Born-Haber Cycle Calculator

The Born-Haber Cycle is a thermodynamic method used to calculate the lattice energy of an ionic compound — the energy released when oppositely charged ions pack together to form a crystal, which cannot be measured directly in a lab. Enter your compound's Standard Enthalpy of Formation, Sublimation Enthalpy, Total Ionization Energy, Bond Dissociation Energy, and Electron Affinity into the Born-Haber Cycle Calculator to find the Lattice Energy (U), its magnitude, and the resulting Ionic Bond Strength classification. Also try the use the Decay Rate Calculator (Organic Matter).

kJ/mol

Formation enthalpy of the ionic compound

kJ/mol

Energy required to sublime the metal

kJ/mol

Sum of all ionization energies for the metal

kJ/mol

Half of the bond dissociation energy of diatomic nonmetal

kJ/mol

Sum of electron affinities for the nonmetal

Results

Lattice Energy (U)

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Lattice Energy Magnitude

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Ionic Bond Strength

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What is the Born-Haber cycle used for?

The Born-Haber cycle is used to calculate the lattice energy of ionic compounds by applying Hess's law to various thermodynamic processes including sublimation, ionization, electron affinity, and formation. See also our calculate Calculated Result, Decay Constant (λ) & Mean Lifetime (τ) — Nuclear Half-Life.

What is lattice energy?

Lattice energy is the energy required to completely separate one mole of an ionic solid into gaseous ions, or conversely, the energy released when gaseous ions combine to form one mole of an ionic solid.

How do you calculate lattice energy using Born-Haber cycle?

Lattice energy is calculated using the equation: U = ΔH°f - ΔHsub - ΣIE - ½D - ΣEA, where each term represents different thermodynamic processes in the cycle. You might also find our Empirical Formula Calculator useful.

What determines the magnitude of lattice energy?

Lattice energy depends on the charges of the ions and the distance between them. Higher charges and smaller ionic radii result in stronger electrostatic attractions and higher lattice energies.

Why is lattice energy always positive when defined as energy required?

Lattice energy is positive because energy must be supplied to overcome the strong electrostatic attractions between oppositely charged ions in the crystal lattice.

What is the lattice energy of common ionic compounds?

NaCl has a lattice energy of about 786 kJ/mol, while MgO has a much higher lattice energy of about 3791 kJ/mol due to the higher charges on Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ ions.