CHEMICAL ENERGETICS

IIT-JEE SYLLABUS
First law of thermodynamics; Internal energy, work and heat, pressure-volume work; Enthalpy,
Hess's law; Heat of reaction, fusion and vapourization; Second law of thermodynamics;
Entropy; Free energy; Criterion of spontaneity.

1.

INTRODUCTION

The term thermodynamics implies flow of heat. Thermodynamics deals with energy changes
associated with all types of physical and chemical processes. Thermodynamics is based on
three important generalizations called first, second and third laws of thermodynamics. All the
laws of thermodynamics are based on human experience. There is no formal proof for any of
these laws. But nothing contrary to these laws has been known to happen whenever we
consider the behaviour of matter in bulk.
Thermodynamics helps us to predict whether a given process or a chemical reaction is feasible
under given conditions temperature, pressure and concentration. Thermodynamics does not
tell anything about the rate at which a given process may proceed.

2.
2.1

TERMS & DEFINITIONS

System and Surroundings

System is part of the universe which is arbitrarily set off from the rest of the universe by
definite boundaries for the purpose of experimental or theoretical studies. The remainder of
the universe is then, in fact the surroundings of the system. The space separating the
system from its surrounding is termed as boundary.
Types of Systems
a)
Real system
b)
Ideal system

2.2

c)

Isolated system

d)

Closed system

e)

Open system

In experimental work, the system is called Real.

In pencil and paper work, the system treated is called ideal.
An ideal system is always considered to simplify the
thermodynamic problems.
A system is said to be isolated when it can neither exchange
energy nor matter with its surroundings.
A system is said to be closed when it permits passage of
energy but not mass, across the boundary.
A system which can exchange both energy and matter with
its surroundings.

Homogeneous & Heterogeneous System

A system is said to be homogenous if it is completely uniform throughout. It consists of only
one phase. A system is said to be heterogeneous if it is not completely uniform throughout.
It consists of two or more phases.

2.3

State of System (State Variables)

The quantities whose value serves to describe the system completely are called the
thermodynamic properties of the system. Once the properties of the system are
completely specified, one says that the state of the system is specified. Thus, the
defining properties are sometimes called state variables or state properties. Examples of
state properties are pressure, volume, temperature and composition.
When we are considering a closed system consisting of one or more components, mass
is not a state variable.

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