5.

Sample Test/Examination Questions on Chemical Thermodynamics

1. CH110 Sessional Examination, December 2009. Question Two – 15 Marks

(a) State the first law of thermodynamics and differentiate the three terms commonly used
in thermodynamics; system, surrounding and universe? [2]

(b) Molybdenum (IV) sulfide, MoS2, is used in several important industrial processes. From
o
the data given below, calculate ΔH f (MoS2,(s)), the standard molar enthalpy of formation
for MoS2.
Show all work.
ΔH o (kJ )
MoS2(s) + 3O2 (g) MoO2 (s) + 2SO2 (g) -1231.4
Mo(s) + O2 (g) MoO2 (s) -588.5
Mo2S3(s) + S (s) 2MoS2 (s) -83.2
Mo2S3(s) + 3O2 (g) 2Mo(s) + 3SO2 (g) -502.4
2Mo(s) + 3S(s) Mo2S3(s) -386.2 [3]

(c) Hydrogen (0.100g) and oxygen (0.800g) are compressed into a 1.00 dm 3 steel bomb
(reaction chamber), which is then placed into water in a calorimeter. Before the reaction
is set off, the temperature of the water is 25.000 oC; after reaction the temperature rises
to 25.155oC. The heat capacity of the calorimeter (bomb, water, etc) is 90.8 kJ oC-1. What
is ΔE for this reaction? [3]

(d) Photosynthetic plants use the following reaction to produce glucose, cellulose, and
more:
6CO2(g) + 6H2O (l) C6H12O6 (s) + 6O2 (g)
How might extensive destruction of forests make worse the greenhouse effect? [2]

(e) One of the components of pollution is NO. It is formed in the high-temperature

environment of internal combustion engines by the following reaction:
N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g) ΔH = 180 kJ

Why are high temperatures needed to convert N2 and O2 to NO. [2]

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 5. Sample Test/Examination Questions on Chemical Thermodynamics

(f) We can measure the work done by a gas if the reaction is done in a vessel that has been
fitted with a piston as shown in the diagram below.

By definition:
Work = Force X displacement in the direction of force
From this definition, show that:
w = PΔV
[3]
th
2. G1: EE, EM and CS CH110 Test 2: 11 September, 2011. Question Two.
(a) Calculate the standard enthalpies of formation of MgCl 2(s) and the hypothetical
compound, MgCl(s) from the following data:
ΔH o (kJ/mol )
Mg(s) Mg(g) 149
½Cl2(g) Cl(g) 121

Mg(g)
Mg +{g} + e- 740

Mg+(g)
Mg ++
{g} + e- 1500

Cl(g) +e-
Cl−( g) -364
−
Mg ++
{g} + Cl
2 ( g) MgCl2 (s) -2489

Mg+(g) +
Cl−( g) MgCl (s) -815 [6]
(b) Form the results of a) calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction
2 MgCl (s) Mg(s) + MgCl2 (s) [3]
(c) In the light of your answer to b) comment on the relative stabilities of MgCl (s) and
MgCl2(s). [2]
(d) Consider the reaction
2O(g) O2(g)
o o
(i) Predict, with reactions, the sign of ΔH and ΔS [3]
(ii) Would the reaction spontaneity be influenced by temperature? Explain. [3]

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 5. Sample Test/Examination Questions on Chemical Thermodynamics

(iii) State the first, second and third law of thermodynamics. [3]
(e) Elemental sulfur can exist in two crystalline forms, rhombic and monoclinic. Given the
following data:

crystalline form ΔH of (kJ mol-1) So (J K-1 mol-1)

S (rhombic) 0 31.73
S (monoclinic) 0.30 32.50

(i) Which form of sulfur has the more ordered crystalline structure? Justify. [2]
(ii) Calculate the temperature for the phase change from the monoclinic crystal
structure to rhombic crystal form (S(monoclinic) S(rhombic)). [4]
(iii) Find the standard enthalpy of formation of carbon disulfide, CS 2. It burns in air to
form CO2 and SO2. Standard enthalpies of combustion in KJ mol-1 are CS 2(l) -1075, S(s)
-297 and C(s) – 394. [4]
3. CH110 Sessional Examination, 2006. Question Seven.
(a) A balloon filled with 25 mol helium has a volume of 825 L at 1.0 oC and 1.00 atm
pressure. The temperature of the balloon is increased to 39 oC as it expands to a volume
of 1000 L, the pressure remaining constant. Calculate q, w, and ΔE (the molar heat
capacity of helium gas is 20.8 J/oC) [6]
(b) Given the following data:
ΔH o (kJ/mol )
5
C2H2(g) + 2
O2( g ) 2CO2(g) + H2O(g) -1300
C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g) -394
1
H2(g) + O2(g)
2 H2O(l) -286
o
Calculate ΔH for the reaction 2C(s) + H2(g) C2H2(g) [5]
(c) Given the following:
ΔH of for NH ) = - 46 kJ mol-1
3(g
o
ΔH f for HCl ) = - 92 kJ mol-1
(g
o
ΔH f for NH Cl ) = - 314 kJ mol-1
4 (s
o
Calculate ΔH for the reaction NH3(g) + HCl(g) NH4Cl(s) [5]
(d) State Hess’s Law. [2]
(e) Define a state function. [2]
4. CH110 Sessional Examination, 2005. Question Nine.
(a) A gas absorbs 45 kJ of heat and does 29 kJ work. Calculate ΔE . [2]

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 5. Sample Test/Examination Questions on Chemical Thermodynamics

(b) It takes 78.2 J to raise the temperature of 45.6 g of lead by 13.3 oC. Calculate the specific
heat capacity and molar heat capacity of lead. [4]

(c) Given the following data:

ΔH o (kJ )
1
O
H2(g) + 2 2( g ) H2O(l) + H2O(g) -285.8
N2O5(g) + H2O(l) 2HNO3(l) -76.6
1 3 1
H
2 N2(g) +
O2(g) + 2 2( g )
2 HNO3(l) -174.1
o
Calculate ΔH for 2N2(g) + 5O2(g) N2O5(g). [4]
(d) Use the values of standard enthalpies of formation from the given table to calculate
ΔH o for the following reaction given below:
C2H5OH(l) + 3O2(g) 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(g).
Substance ΔH of (kJ)
C2H5OH(l) -278
O2(g) 0
CO2(g) -395.3
H2O(g) -242 [4]

(e) A balloon contains 313 g of helium at a pressure of 1.00 atm. The volume of the balloon
is 1910 L. The temperature is decreased by 15.0 oC as the volume decreases to 1840 L,
the pressure remaining constant. Calculate q, w and ΔE for the helium in the balloon
(the molar heat capacity of helium gas is 20.8 J/oC mol). [6]

5. CH110 Sessional Examination, February 2008. Question Ten.

(a) Briefly explain the three types of systems in thermo-chemistry:
(i) Open system
(ii) Closed system
(iii) Isolated system
[3]
(b) What is meant by a spontaneous process? [3]
(c) A 0.100 mol sample of propane gas is placed into a bomb calorimeter with excess
oxygen and ignited. The reaction was
C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(l)

(d)

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