Thermodynamics Fundamentals and Energy Transfer

This page introduces fundamental concepts in thermodynamics and explores energy transfer in chemical reactions and phase changes.

Vocabulary: Temperature reflects the average kinetic energy of particles, while heat is the transfer of energy due to temperature differences.

Definition: Enthalpy is a quantity equivalent to the total heat content of a system, calculated as internal energy plus pressure-volume work.

The page explains the components of a thermodynamic system, including reactants, products, and surroundings. It emphasizes that energy can move between the system and surroundings but remains constant in the universe.

Highlight: At constant pressure, the change in enthalpy (ΔH) equals the energy flow as heat.

The text distinguishes between endothermic reactions, where heat is absorbed into the system, and exothermic reactions, where heat is released from the system. It notes that endothermic processes typically involve overcoming intermolecular forces, while exothermic processes involve forming them.

Example: In phase changes, transitions from higher to lower energy states (e.g., gas to solid) are exothermic, while transitions to higher energy states (e.g., liquid to gas) are endothermic.

The page also covers thermodynamic calculations related to phase changes and temperature changes. It introduces concepts such as heat of fusion, heat of vaporization, and specific heat capacity.

Definition: Specific heat capacity is the energy required to raise one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius, an intensive property that depends on the state of matter.

The document includes a heating curve diagram illustrating temperature changes and phase transitions, highlighting the relationship between heat added and temperature for different states of matter.