GCII Lab 1
Experiment I: Thermochemistry
Background:
Thermochemistry is the branch of chemistry that focuses on the studies of chemical reactions or physical changes and heat associated with chemical reactions. According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can be converted from one form into another and/or transferred between different atoms, molecules, or substances. In general, energy can be classified into two categories: kinetic and potential. Kinetic energy is the energy that is associated with motion while potential energy is the “stored” energy of an object and depends on the position of the object. A ball rolling down a hill is a classic example of the conversion of potential to kinetic energy.
At the top of the hill, the ball possesses a large potential energy, which makes it less stable, but as the ball rolls down the hill, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the ball picks up speed and moves to a lower potential energy, or more stable form.
Kinetic energy can be expressed through thermal, mechanical, electrical and sound-based forms.
Thermal energy depends on the random motion of the particles. As the kinetic energy of the particles increases, we observe an increase in the thermal energy of the substance. This change in thermal energy is associated with the change in temperature of the substance, however, it is important to note that thermal energy and temperature are not the same properties even though they are related.
Temperature measures the average thermal energy of the substance and does not depend on the number of particles in the system, whereas the total thermal energy does depend on the number of particles. Potential energy can also occur in the form of gravitational, electrostatic, or chemical energy.
Electrostatic energy depends on the attractive and repulsive forces between the nuclei, electrons and protons of atoms and molecules. Chemical energy is the energy stored in substances due to
Background:
Thermochemistry is the branch of chemistry that focuses on the studies of chemical reactions or physical changes and heat associated with chemical reactions. According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can be converted from one form into another and/or transferred between different atoms, molecules, or substances. In general, energy can be classified into two categories: kinetic and potential. Kinetic energy is the energy that is associated with motion while potential energy is the “stored” energy of an object and depends on the position of the object. A ball rolling down a hill is a classic example of the conversion of potential to kinetic energy.
At the top of the hill, the ball possesses a large potential energy, which makes it less stable, but as the ball rolls down the hill, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the ball picks up speed and moves to a lower potential energy, or more stable form.
Kinetic energy can be expressed through thermal, mechanical, electrical and sound-based forms.
Thermal energy depends on the random motion of the particles. As the kinetic energy of the particles increases, we observe an increase in the thermal energy of the substance. This change in thermal energy is associated with the change in temperature of the substance, however, it is important to note that thermal energy and temperature are not the same properties even though they are related.
Temperature measures the average thermal energy of the substance and does not depend on the number of particles in the system, whereas the total thermal energy does depend on the number of particles. Potential energy can also occur in the form of gravitational, electrostatic, or chemical energy.
Electrostatic energy depends on the attractive and repulsive forces between the nuclei, electrons and protons of atoms and molecules. Chemical energy is the energy stored in substances due to