C - Thermodynamics Flashcards
What is the First Law of Thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
This is known as the law of conservation of energy
What is specific heat capacity?
The gradient of a plot of energy against temperature at constant pressure
Cp = dH / dT
What is 1 calorie?
The energy change needed to increase the temperature of 1g of water by 1°C
1 calorie = 4.2 J
What is the equation for work done?
E = Fx
where F = force constant
and x = distance
What is the equation for gravitational potential energy?
PE = mgh
What is the equation for kinetic energy?
E = ½ mv²
What is the equation for the energy of an individual photon?
E = hν
What is a calorimeter?
An insulated device in which the temperature change associated with a specific chemical or physical change can be measured. It is normally calibrated electrically.
It has a stirrer, a thermometer, and a lid to keep constant pressure
eg. school calorimeter, ‘bomb’ calorimeter
The latter has the material in excess oxygen, and when given a spark it combusts very quickly
Heat evolved: qp = n x Cp x ΔT = ΔH
What is the equation for power dispersed?
P = dE / dt
P measured in Watts = J/s
What is Kleiber’s law?
Power output, P ∝ M3/4
What do the terms universe, surroundings and adiabatic mean?
Universe = both system and surroundings
Surroundings = everything around the system that has physical contact with it; may or may not exchange energy and matter
Adiabatic = Energy is transformed only in the form of work
What do the terms system, and this being open, closed or isolated, mean?
System = the chemical reaction or mechanism under observation
Open = system can exchange energy and matter with the surroundings
Closed = system can exchange energy but not matter with the surroundings
Isolated = no exchange can occur
Describe the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
It is the distribution of energy of atoms in a gas. It is weighted towards lower speeds, and tends towards zero.
As temperature increases, the curve flattens and moves towards the right, given that with increasing temperature the probability of finding particles at higher energy increases.
The highest point on the curve, the stationary point, is the modal energy of the atoms.
How can the distribution within energy levels be described?
There is an exponential relationship.
As temperature increases, the higher energy states become more populated.
What is the equation for predicting the occupation of a particular energy level (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution)?
(population in state En / population in state Eo ) = e-(En - Eo)/kT
if considering individual molecules, k = Boltzmann constant, 1.38 x 10^-23 J/K
if considering moles, k = R (gas constant) = 8.314 J
What is the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics?
Energy flows between objects so as to equalise their temperatures.
Temperature is therefore to a liquid as pressure is to a gas.
Alternatively, if two systems A and B are individually in equilibrium with a third system, C, then A and B are also in equilibrium with each other.
What is the difference between intensive properties and extensive properties?
Intensive properties do not depend on the amount of material, whereas extensive properties do
eg. temperature = intensive, volume = extensive
What is temperature?
Temperature determines the distribution of thermal energy in a system.
Higher temperatures imply faster molecules or more populated higher energy levels.
What do the terms U, q and w mean?
U = internal energy ie the sum total of all possible energies in the system
q = heat transferred to the system
w = work done on the system
What is a state function? Give an example of one.
A state function is path independent; it does not matter how the change has come about, but the value of the change does matter.
U is a state function as they are denoted with capital letters.
What is heat?
The transfer of energy due to a difference in temperature between the system and the surroundings.
This results in a change in the random motion at the molecular level in the system.
What is work?
The transfer of energy to or from the system that results in a coordinated motion of molecules of a system.
What does it mean if q > 0 or q < 0 ?
q > 0 = energy is moving from the surroundings to the system = endothermic
q < 0 = energy moving from the systems to the surroundings = exothermic
What does it mean if w > 0 or w < 0 ?
w > 0 = surroundings do work on the system = system gains energy
w < 0 = system does work on the surroundings = system loses energy
What happens to ΔU, q and w if pressure says constant?
At constant pressure q = qp
w = -pΔV
qp = ΔU + pΔV = ΔH
What happens to ΔU, q and w if both pressure and volume stay constant?
ΔU ≈ ΔH