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5: Thermochemistry

  • Page ID
    574068
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    • 5.1: Introduction
      This page explains the importance of chemical reactions, particularly combustion, in energy production, accounting for 85% of US energy use in 2012. While they meet essential energy needs, they also contribute to climate change. Other chemical reactions, such as battery processes, are highlighted for their role in energy. The understanding of energy changes in reactions is based on the strength of chemical bonds, particularly through concepts like bond enthalpy and enthalpies of formation.
    • 5.2: Energy Basics
      Energy is the capacity to do work (applying a force to move matter). Heat is energy that is transferred between objects at different temperatures; it flows from a high to a low temperature. Chemical and physical processes can absorb heat (endothermic) or release heat (exothermic). The SI unit of energy, heat, and work is the joule (J). Specific heat and heat capacity are measures of the energy needed to change the temperature of a substance or object.
    • 5.3: Calorimetry
      Calorimetry is used to measure the amount of thermal energy transferred in a chemical or physical process. This requires careful measurement of the temperature change that occurs during the process and the masses of the system and surroundings. These measured quantities are then used to compute the amount of heat produced or consumed in the process using known mathematical relations. Calorimeters are designed to minimize energy exchange between the system and its surroundings.
    • 5.4: Enthalpy
      If a chemical change is carried out at constant pressure and the only work done is caused by expansion or contraction, q for the change is called the enthalpy change with the symbol ΔH. Examples of enthalpy changes include enthalpy of combustion, enthalpy of fusion, enthalpy of vaporization, and standard enthalpy of formation. If the enthalpies of formation are available for the reactants and products of a reaction, the enthalpy change can be calculated using Hess’s law.
    • 5.5: Strengths of Ionic and Covalent Bonds
      This page covers bond strength, bond energies, and lattice energies. It explains how bond energies relate to forming and breaking covalent and ionic bonds and how they can be used to estimate reaction enthalpies. Examples illustrate exothermic reactions, such as the formation of HCl, and the concept of lattice energy in ionic compounds, emphasizing factors affecting stability.
    • 5.6: Key Terms
    • 5.7: Key Equations
    • 5.8: Summary
    • 5.9: Exercises


    This page titled 5: Thermochemistry was last modified on Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:52:12 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brooke Johnson.

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