Bond enthalpies....

[Cheman]

Apparently from what I have read, mean bond enthalpies are only given for things in gaseous state - why is this the case? Why can we not quote bond enthalpies in, say, the solid or liquid state?

Thanks. :-D

[Gokul43201]

It is difficult to experimentally determine the bond enthalpies in the solid or liquid state; usually because it takes less energy to melt/boil the substance than it takes to break all bonds between specific atoms.