Thermodynamics Flashcards
What is heat?
Heat is energy transferred as a result of temperature differences.
What is work?
Work is done as a result of motion against an opposing force.
What are heat and work both methods of?
Heat and work are both methods of transferring energy to the system.
What is an isolated system?
A system not connected thermally or mechanically to the surroundings.
What is internal energy?
Internal energy is the capacity to do work (U).
State the molecular origins of internal energy (3).
- Kinetic energy from moving molecules.
- Potential energy possessed by molecules.
- Attractive and repulsive forces exerted by molecules on one another, related to electrostatic force between two charged particles.
Molecules possess potential energy as a result of…(3).
- Attractions between nuclei and electrons.
- Chemical bonds.
- Intermolecular attractions.
What is internal energy (U)?
The sum of all kinetic and potential energy contributions.
When will internal energy change?
Internal energy will change if its volume is changed, as this changes the average separation between molecules.
What is the relationship between work and internal energy?
- If work is done BY a system, its internal energy DECREASES.
- If work is done ON a system, its internal energy INCREASES.
Explain the meaning of the +/- signs of q and w.
w: POSITIVE means that work is done ON the system.
NEGATIVE means that work is done BY the system.
q: POSITIVE means that heat is supplied TO the system.
NEGATIVE means that heat is released FROM the system.
Give 3 ways of stating the first law of thermodynamics.
- The internal energy of an isolated system is constant ∆U = 0.
- Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only interconverted between forms.
- The total amount of energy in the universe is constant.
What is expansion work? Give an example.
Expansion work involves a change in the volume of the system i.e. a reaction with gases.
What is non-expansion work? Give an example.
Non-expansion work doesn’t involve a change in volume i.e. chemical reaction done in a battery.
What are the consequences of the first law of thermodynamics? (2).
- Energy is conserved, heat + work are equivalent forms of energy.
- Chemical reactions at constant volume have no expansion work, therefore w = 0 and heat is the ONLY contribution to ∆U. Therefore, ∆U = qv.
What is meant by the term ‘state functions’?
Pressure, volume and temperature depend only on the state of the system and are independent of how the change was brought about.
What is meant by the term ‘path functions’?
Work and heat depend on the path between states and depend on how the change was brought about.
What is an exothermic reaction?
They give out energy/heat, the reacting system loses energy.
∆H < 0, heat is released from the system at constant pressure.
What is an endothermic reaction?
They take in energy/heat, reacting system gains energy.
∆H > 0, heat is absorbed by the system at constant pressure.
What is meant by the term molar enthalpy of melting?
The enthalpy change which occurs when 1 mol of a SOLID melts to form a liquid.
What is meant by the term molar enthalpy of vaporisation?
The enthalpy change which occurs when 1 mol of a LIQUID boils to form a gas.
State Hess’s Law.
∆H = ∆H(products) - ∆H(reactants)
∆H = ∆U + p∆V