CHM2046-Chemistry Fundamentals II: Free Energy and Thermodynamics

This flashcard set focuses on key concepts from the lecture notes regarding free energy and thermodynamics in chemistry.

What is the Heat Death of the universe?

A state of no thermodynamic free energy.

What are the three main ideas in thermodynamics studied in this course?

The Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG).

What is spontaneity in thermodynamics?

The ability of a process to occur without ongoing outside intervention.

Define Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG).

The key to predicting if a reaction will be spontaneous or not.

What does the first law of thermodynamics state?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another.

What is the difference between spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes?

Spontaneous processes occur without outside intervention, while nonspontaneous processes require energy input.

How does increasing entropy relate to spontaneous processes?

Processes that increase the entropy of the universe occur spontaneously.

What is entropy (S) in thermodynamics?

A thermodynamic function that increases with the number of energetically equivalent ways to arrange components of a system.

According to the second law of thermodynamics, what happens to the entropy of the universe in a spontaneous process?

The entropy of the universe increases.

What is the relationship between potential energy and spontaneity?

A reaction is thermodynamically favorable if the system after the reaction has less potential energy than before.

What happens to the arrangement of molecules when water evaporates?

The arrangement becomes more disorderly, increasing entropy.

What does a positive ΔS indicate regarding a process?

An increase in entropy, typically occurring during phase transitions from solid to liquid or gas.

What is the significance of macrostates and microstates in thermodynamics?

Macrostates define the system under specific measurable conditions, while microstates represent the internal energy distribution of particles.

Are spontaneous reactions necessarily fast?

No, spontaneity is not related to the speed of the reaction; it refers to whether the reaction can occur without outside help.