Calorimetry and Enthalpy Concepts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to calorimetry, thermodynamics, and reaction enthalpy.

Calorimetry

The science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes.

Internal Energy (U)

The total energy contained within a system, including kinetic and potential energy of particles.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Enthalpy (H)

The total heat content of a system, often expressed as heat transfer at constant pressure.

Exothermic Reaction

A process or reaction that releases energy in the form of heat.

Endothermic Reaction

A process or reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, usually in the form of heat.

Bomb Calorimeter

An apparatus used to measure the heat of combustion of a substance under constant volume.

Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a given quantity of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.

ΔT (Change in Temperature)

The difference between the final and initial temperatures (Tfinal - Tinitial) of a system.

Heat of Reaction

The heat change that occurs during a chemical reaction, typically expressed in kilojoules.

Hess's Law

A principle stating that the total enthalpy change during a reaction is the same, regardless of whether the reaction occurs in one step or multiple steps.

Standard State

The reference condition for a substance defined at a specific temperature, pressure, and phase.