Thermodynamics

Energy

Capacity to do work
Capacity to supply heat
Independent of pathway

Kinetic Energy

Energy associated to motion

Potential energy

Energy due to the position and composition of the system

Stored in the bonds

Internal energy

Sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of all particles in

the system
Can be changed by flow of work and heat

Law of thermodynamics

Energy of universe is always constant (energy cannot be

destroyed nor created)

Heat

Energy which can be transferred

Causes
o Change in temperature (property that reflects the
random motion of particles)
o Change in state
Dependent on pathway

Work

Force acting over a distance

Dependent on pathway

Exothermic reactions

Difference in potential energy between products and reactants

is negative
i.e. heat flows out burning, exploding

Endothermic reactions

Difference in potential energy between products and reactants

is positive
Require heat to occur melting ice, creating steam from water

Same for work

If the surroundings do work on the system (energy flows into

the system) w is positive

If the system does work on the surroundings (energy flows out
of the system) w is negative

Work done by gas

Work done by gas expansion

Work done on a gas compression
Deriving a formula
o Pressure = Force/Area (Force = pressure X area)
o Work = force X distance, sub in force equation above to
get:
o WORK= PRESSURE X AREA X DISTANCE (change in
height of cylinder)
o We can simplify and say that Area X change in height of
cylinder is change in volume, therefore:
o Work = Pressure (external) X change in volume
For expanding gas: work = -Pressure X change in

volume
For compressing gas: work = pressure X change in
volume

Enthalpy

H=E (change in internal energy) + pressure X V(work on

surroundings)
o Work is calculated only using the extra number of moles

produced/consumed in chemical reactions

State function, i.e. independent of pathway
At constant pressure, H = energy flow as heat
o Hence, at constant pressure, heat of reaction and
change of enthalpy are interchangeable

E VS H

Heat
o
Heat
o

acting at constant volume

Q(v) = as no work is done; no expansion/compression
acting at constant pressure
Q(p) = as work is done; expansion/compression

Molar heat capacity (C) of a substance

Energy required to raise the temperature of 1 mole of that

substance by 1 kelvin
Of an ideal gas = 3/2R at constant volume

Heating an ideal gas at constant volume

C(v) = 3/2R (change in kinetic energy of particles)

Heating an ideal gas at constant pressure

Volume increases when heating is done at constant pressure.

Energy is used to
o Supply the work (PV) the gas does when expanding
o Change the kinetic energy of the gas particles (3/2R)
From ideal gas law
o Work = PV and PV = nRT
o Work done per mole of gas (PV) = RT
o When T = 1kelvin,
o PV = R
Hence C(p) = 3/2R + R = 5/2R

Monoatomic/polyatomic gas behaviour

Monoatomic molecules can only absorb energies to become

faster it can only increase its kinetic energy

Polyatomic molecules can absorb energy to become faster as

well as storing the energy in the bonds by vibrating/rotating

Therefore, polyatomic molecules molar heat capacity is much
higher than 3/2R