A Critical Evaluation of Bond Energy/ Group Contribution Methods of Calculating the Heat of Formation: Development of a New Generalized Scheme. Part I. Alkanes∗

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Abstract
Results of application of seven well-known bond energy/group contribution methods to the experimental data on heats of formation of 70 alkanes, including a few polymers, are reported. The earlier claims of accuracy of many of these schemes become untenable with the emergence of new data on nonanes and polymers, calling for more parameters to cope with the steric interaction energy in higher branched alkanes. A new general bond energy scheme is developed with low standard error of ±0.28 kcal/mole which is close to the experimental uncertainty. Heats of formation of some polyolefin structures are predicted for the experimental verification in the future. The energy terms of the new scheme are transferable to other non-hydrocarbon organic compounds for which a general scheme is under way.