Introduction to Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts related to thermochemistry and thermodynamics, designed to aid in understanding and memorization of the lecture material.

Thermochemistry

The study of heat changes that occur during chemical reactions and phase changes.

Thermodynamics

The branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy.

Exothermic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy in the form of heat.

Endothermic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings.

Calorimetry

The experimental method used to measure the heat exchanged during a physical or chemical process.

First Law of Thermodynamics

States that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

System

The specific part of the universe that is being studied.

Surroundings

Everything else in the universe that is not part of the system.

Gibbs Free Energy (G)

A thermodynamic potential that measures the maximum reversible work that can be performed by a system at constant temperature and pressure.

Hess's Law

States that the total enthalpy change for a reaction is the sum of the enthalpy changes for the individual steps of the reaction.

Entropy (S)

A measure of the dispersal of energy or the number of microstates available to a system; it indicates the degree of disorder.

Specific Heat Capacity

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

Endothermic

Refers to a process or reaction that absorbs heat from the environment.

Exothermic

Refers to a process or reaction that releases heat to the environment.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Calorimeter

A device used to measure the amount of heat involved in a chemical or physical process.

Standard Conditions

Pressure = 1 bar, Temperature = 298 K, and substances in their most stable physical form.

Spontaneous Process

A process that occurs without outside intervention.

Enthalpy (ΔH)

The total heat content of a system at constant pressure.

Molar Entropy (S°)

The entropy of one mole of a pure substance at 1 atm pressure and a specified temperature.