The series of high-silica zeolites ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, SSZ-24, cubi
c and hexagonal faujasite has been studied to understand the relation
between crystal structure and stability in open silicate frameworks. H
igh-temperature solution calorimetry using lead borate (2PbO2.B2O3) so
lvent at 977 K measured enthalpies of solution and transposed temperat
ure drop calorimetry obtained heat contents at 977 K. Data have been c
ompared with those for quartz and other ''dense'', crystalline polymor
phs of silica. The enthalpies of formation at 298 K are as follows: ZS
M-12, -(902.0 +/- 1.3); ZSM-5, -(902.5 +/- 1.3); ZSM-11, (902.5 +/- 1.
4); SSZ-24, -(903.5 +/- 1.3); hexagonal faujasite, -(900.2 +/- 1.3); a
nd cubic faujasite, -(897.1 +/- 1.2) kJ/mol. The value for quartz is -
(910.70 +/- 1.00) kJ/mol. All zeolitic silicas are only 7-14 kJ/mol le
ss stable in enthalpy than quartz. This implies an entropic or kinetic
rather than a large stabilizing energetic role of the template in zeo
lite synthesis. The small variations in energy among these structures
cannot be directly related either to the degree of ''openness'' (frame
work density or molar volume) or to the mean Si-O-Si angle. Rather, th
e overall distribution of bond angles seems to dictate the energy of t
hese structures, with Si-O-Si angles below 140-degrees being the major
destabilizing factor. On the other hand, heat contents, (H977-H298),
including those for 'dense' crystalline polymorphs, show a linear depe
ndence on the framework density or molar volume.