GEOCHEMISTRY (GLG, CHM 481/598)

Spring 2014, Hartnett

Homework 1 Review and Thermodynamics
Due Wednesday 22 Jan, at the beginning of class. Please, be as legible as possible! Apar has
to read these and if he cant decipher them he cant grade them.
1.
Answer the following short answer questions from Eby,
Chapter 1: 7, 15, 16, 37, 40
Chapter 2: 5, 8, 12, 14, 21
2.
The oxidation of carbon by oxygen to carbon dioxide is given by the reaction:
C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)
Pure carbon in the solid phase occurs naturally in two common forms, diamond and graphite.
(a) Use the thermodynamic data in Appendix II of Eby to calculate the standard state Gibbs
energy, enthalpy, entropy, and equilibrium constant of this reaction for graphite and for
diamond at 25C and 1 bar.
(b) Calculate the standard state free energy, enthalpy, entropy, and equilibrium constant for the
following equilibrium reaction (at 25C and 1 bar):
C(diamond) C(graphite)
(c) Is the above reaction diamond to graphite endothermic or exothermic? Which is the more
stable form of carbon at 25C and 1 bar?
(d) Should diamonds spontaneously convert to graphite or vice versa? Many diamonds are found
in very old rocks of Precambrian age (greater than 600 million years old!). Why do these
diamonds show no signs of decomposition or disintegration? What might these observations
imply about the chemical bonding in diamond compared to graphite?

For this first assignment, Im giving you the questions from the book. After this, I expect you to
have a copy of the textbook.
Chapter 1: 7, 15, 16, 37, 40

Chapter 2: 5, 8, 12, 14, 21