Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

Introduction to Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is the study of how energy changes between “systems.” In chemistry, we

are primarily concerned with heat energy changes. Energy is an extremely abstract concept and
there is nothing more important in all of the sciences or engineering than understanding energy.

Energy

Physics Chemistry Biology

Internal Energy

There are two main concepts in thermodynamics at this level of chemistry: Internal Energy
and Enthalpy. This worksheet will cover Internal Energy.

Thermo-
dynamics

Internal
Enthalpy
Energy

Bond
U=Q+W q = mcΔT q = mL Hess's Law
Enthalpy

Gases mixing and reacting Heat being transferred to a Solids or liqids

in a closed container. substance. experiencing a phase change.

Q (heat) measured as radiant q (heat) measured as thermal q (heat) measured as how much
energy released when gases react. or radiant energy. radiant or thermal energy a substance
absorbs during a phase change.

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 Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

Laws of Thermodynamics

There are 4 laws in thermodynamics: 0th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. This class will cover 0th – 2nd. This
worksheet will cover 0th and 1st.

1) Zeroth Law: Heat is always transferred from a hotter substance to a cooler

substance, never from cooler to hotter. In other words, hot
objects always release heat, cold objects always absorb heat.
release heat and cold objects absorb heat.
Concept Discussion

How do items in the refrigerator get colder?

How does the temperature inside a refrigerator
get colder in the first place?

2) First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be

transformed from one type to another.

Types of
Energy

Kinetic Potential
Energy Energy

Gravita-
Mechanical Electrical Chemical
tional

Thermal Radiant Nuclear Elastic

Sound

Concept Discussion

What is another term that we have talked about that

is interchangeable with radiant energy (radiation)?

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 Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

Types of Heat Transfer

There are 3 ways that heat is transferred from one substance to another: Convection,
Conduction, and Radiation. Conduction and Radiation are the most important for this class.
Increasing an object or substance’s heat will increase its temperature.

Concept Discussion

What is temperature a measurement of?

Types of
Heat
Transfer

Thermal Radiant

Convection Conduction

1) Conduction: The transfer of heat between two objects or substances

through physical contact. When two objects touch, the hotter
object transfers its kinetic energy to the colder object.

2) Radiation: The transfer of heat through electromagnetic radiation.

Primarily infrared radiation. The warmth you feel on your
face from a campfire is infrared light hitting your skin.
Combustion reactions like wood burning release huge
amounts of radiant heat.

Concept Discussion

Describe how heat is transferred in the

process of boiling an egg over a gas stove.

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 Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

Internal Energy: U = Q + W

We need to think about isolated systems. We measure the internal energy (U) of isolated
systems and they are very simple for this class. If any question asks about internal energy, you
are safe to assume the following situation:

Picture a balloon filled with 2 or

more gases that are going to
react. The balloon is the system
boundary and the internal
volume is the system. The
surroundings are the air around
the system.

Two things are going to happen to the system as

the gases react:

1) The reaction between the gases will cause the system to exchange heat (Q) with the
surroundings.
• Chemical reactions will either:
1. Release heat to the surroundings (negative Q).
2. Absorb heat from the surroundings (positive Q).

Haber
Equation 3 H2 (g) + N2 (g) → 2 NH3 (g) + heat
2) The reaction between the gases will cause the system to “exchange work” (W) with the
surroundings.
• Chemical reactions cause either:
1. The volume of the system to increase (negative W).
▪ Work done by the system to the surroundings.
2. The volume of the system to decrease (positive W).
▪ Work done by the surroundings onto the system.
Reverse
Haber
Equation
heat + 2 NH3 (g) → 3 H2 (g) + N2 (g)

What would the signs of Q and W be in U = +

a problem about the Haber Equation?
Practice Q W
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 Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

1. Many gases are mixed into a container to react together. The container loses heat to the
environment and the pressure of the container increases. Will the change in internal energy (U)
be positive or negative?

2. A closed container absorbs 1452 J of energy during a chemical reaction. If the container also
had 1.58 kJ of work done to it, calculate the internal energy.

3. The internal energy of a system increased by 982 J when it absorbed 492 J of heat. Was work
done by or on the system? How much work was done?

Specific Heat Capacity: q = mcΔT

Specific heat capacity is a measurement of how easy or hard it is to raise the temperature of
a substance. More specifically, it is a measurement of how much energy is required to raise 1
gram of a substance by 1 °C. Every substance has a different specific heat capacity. Water has a
relatively high specific heat capacity and metals have relatively low specific heat capacities.

Concept Discussion Specific Heat Capacity

Of Water
Since water has a high specific heat capacity,
do you think that it is easy or difficult to raise
the temperature of water? Why?
4.184 J/g°C

Heat energy Change in temperature

change of a substance.
for a substance.
q = mcΔT
Specific Heat
Mass of substance Capacity of substance
changing temperature. changing temperature.
Practice

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 Thermodynamics 1 Guided Lecture

1) How much energy (in kJ) is required to raise the temperature of 100.0 grams of water from
18 °C to 25 °C?

2) If 6851 J of energy was required to raise a 150.0 gram piece of metal from 298 K to 328 K,
what is the specific heat capacity of the metal in J/g°C?

3) Two cups of water are mixed together. The first cup has 120.0 grams of water at a
temperature of 25.0 °C. The second cup has 90.0 grams of water at a temperature of 55.0 °C.
What is the final temperature of the water mixture in °C?

4) After heating up a 100.0 gram piece of metal to 150.0 °C, I place it in a cup of cool water.
The water has a mass of 215.0 grams and a temperature of 25.0 °C. If the metal and water
come to 37 °C, what is the specific heat of the metal in J/g°C?

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