Past exam of the chemistry course of the year 3 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 1 / 10 / b / i

Use the balanced aqueous-acid reactionA Hess cycle first atomizes the metal, then ionizes its gas-phase atoms, then hydrates the triply charged gas ions:Close the reference leg by combining the three electrons with $3{\mathrm{H}}^{+}(\mathrm{aq})$ to make $\frac{3}{2}{\mathrm{H}}_2(\mathrm{g})$. Calling that element-independent contribution $C_H$ givesA single-ion standard enthalpy of formation uses the conventional hydrogen-ion reference; it must not be treated as a balanced creation of net charge from neutral metal without an electron/reference term. The constant hydrogen leg does not affect comparisons along the lanthanide series.