Chemical Thermodynamics: Overview, Questions, Preparation

Thermodynamics is an important branch of physics and deals with the interactions of heat and energy from one form to another. It is the relationship between heal and energy and work. In simpler words, we can define thermodynamics as the study of combined consequences of the work and heat changes from one form to another.

There are four major branches of thermodynamics which are listed and explained below:

1. Classical Thermodynamics: Classical thermodynamics is a procedure to measure the behaviour of matter with the macroscopic method. Classical thermodynamics include temperature and pressure units to analyse other properties of matter.
2. Statistical Thermodynamics: In this type of thermodynamics, every molecule is taken into account to determine the molecules’ properties and behavioural patterns.
3. Chemical Thermodynamics: This branch of physics deals with the study of work and heat and how they are related to each other with the help of chemical reactions and by changing the state of matter.
4. Equilibrium Thermodynamics: equilibrium thermodynamics deals with the concepts of energy and matter when they reach their equilibrium point.

As mentioned above, chemical thermodynamics deals with the study of work and heat and their relatability on each other with the help of chemical reactions. Chemical thermodynamics involves laboratory measurements and mathematical measurements to understand the chemical equations and the processes.

1. Gibbs founded the chemical thermodynamics in the 20th century.

The primary objective of chemical thermodynamics is to determine the accessibility of the transformation of energy. These chemical changes of energy take place due to the following processes:

1. Chemical reactions
2. Phase changes
3. Solutions formations

State functions in thermodynamics:

1. Internal energy
2. Enthalpy
3. Entropy
4. Gibbs free energy

There are three laws of thermodynamics which are categorised below:

1. The first law of thermodynamics states that the energy in the universe is constant.
2. The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of the universe will increase in any voluntary process.
3. The last law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a well-structured crystal is zero at 0 kelvin.

As per the new pattern of CBSE 2021, the chapter 'Thermodynamics' holds a significant weightage of 8 marks in total. It consists of 3 main questions, one objective type question of 1 mark, one very short question of 2 marks, and one long question of 5 marks.

Example 1: Name the two properties of Thermodynamics.

Answer: there are two basic thermodynamics properties which are:

• Extensive thermodynamic property
• Intensive thermodynamic property

Example 2: Write the types of a thermodynamic system.

Answer: he types of thermodynamics system are:

• Open system
• Closed system
• Isolated system

Example 3: Name the physicist who discovered Chemical Thermodynamics.

Answer: American physicist J. Willard Gibbs discovered the chemical thermodynamics.

Q: What do you mean by chemical energy?

Q: How thermodynamics is used in everyday life?

Q: What is the third law of thermodynamics?

Q: What is chemical thermodynamics?

Q: What are the two factors affecting internal energy?