Example: For methane, the mean bond enthalpy is \(\pu{415.9 kJ mol-1}\), one-fourth the enthalpy of reaction for \[\ce{CH4 (g) -> C (g) + 4H (g)}\]

Note: More commonly, tabulated mean bond energies (which are really enthalpies) are values of bond enthalpies averaged over a number of selected chemical species containing that type of bond, such as \(\pu{414 kJ mol-1}\) for \(\ce{C-H}\) bonds in a group of \(\ce{R3CH}\) (\(\ce{R = H}\), alkyl).