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Thermodynamics is one of the most important topics for the examination of NEET. You should be
aware about the concepts of thermodynamics to solve the questions in your exam.

It is a branch of physical chemistry that deals with the relations between different forms of energy e.g.
mechanical, electrical, or chemical energy.

Thermodynamics is concerned with macroscopic behaviour rather than microscopic behaviour of the
system.

We use thermodynamics in our daily life. E.g. in vehicles, combustion of fuel takes place, and the
energy by the combustion of fuel is used to drive the car.

Let us start with the very basic terms used in Thermodynamics:

• System: The part of universe that is taken into consideration for thermodynamic study or investigation
is called system. (e.g. in general, if you want to study about the car, then car will be a system)

• Surrounding: The rest of the part of universe excluding system is called surroundings.

(e.g. everything except car will be its surrounding)

• Boundary or Wall: Anything that separates system and surroundings is known as boundary or wall.

There can be different types of walls:

1. Real Wall: A visible boundary that separates system and surrounding is called real wall.
2. Imaginary Wall: We use this type of boundary most of the times. E.g. If you burn plastic in open space,
then the effect of burning will surround a certain area and there is an invisible boundary that is
separating the affected area and non-affected area.
3. Adiabatic Walls: These types of walls are non-conductor of heat. That means heat cannot pass through
these walls.
4. Diathermic Walls: These types of walls are conductor of heat. That means heat can be transferred
through walls.

These definitions are important to understand the concept of thermodynamics.

Types of Systems

There are three types of system

1. Open System 2. Closed System 3. Isolated System

• Open System: I believe you get the idea from the name itself. The system that can exchange both
energy and matter with its surroundings. E.g. If you heat up the water in a container, then at the boiling
point, water starts to evaporate, since the system water can take the energy from the flame and
exchange the matter to the surroundings in the form of vapours.

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• Closed System: The system that can only exchange energy with the surroundings is called closed
system. This type of system cannot exchange matter with the surroundings.

Note: Energy can be transferred in the form of heat or work. So, do not get confuse between the
difference in terms heat and energy.

• Isolated System: The system that can neither change energy nor matter with its surrounding is called
isolated system. The perfect example of isolated system is Universe. Since we know that there is nothing
outside the universe, so there is no point of exchanging energy or matter.

Remember: If there is an adiabatic container and we fill it with gas or any substance, then that
container may not work as an isolated system, because adiabatic wall can prevent transferring of
heat, but it cannot prevent transfer of work.

Intensive and Extensive Properties

Let us consider we have a closed system, filled with water of mass M and the temperature of container is
T. Now, let us cut that container into two equal parts. What will happen?

Now, the mass for both parts of container will be = M/2

However, the temperature will remain same for both i.e. T.

Extensive Properties: When a closed system is divided into two or more parts then the properties
whose value change are called extensive properties. For example, mass.

Intensive Properties: When a closed system is divided into two or more parts then the properties whose
value does not change are called intensive properties. For example, temperature.

These are the very basic or layman language definition of intensive and extensive properties.

Now, let us define them technically:

Extensive Properties

The measurable properties of a system which depends on size of system and amount of matter present in
the system.

Example: Heat Capacity, Enthalpy (H), Internal Energy (U), Entropy (S), Gibbs Free Energy (G).

Intensive Properties

The measurable properties of a system which do not depend on size of system and amount of matter
present in the system are called intensive properties.

Example: Temperature, Concentration (Molarity), Pressure, Refractive Index, Specific Heat Capacity,
Molar Heat Capacity, pH, EMF of cell.

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Important Characteristic of Intensive and Extensive Property

This is very important part of this topic and most of the questions may be asked from these important
points. There can be direct or indirect questions from this topic.

• Ratio of two extensive properties is always an intensive property.

Let A = extensive property

B = extensive property

is intensive property.

Example: Molarity = Moles / Volume of Solution

Moles = extensive property

Volume = extensive property

Molarity = intensive property

Density = Mass / Volume

Mass = extensive property

Volume = extensive property

Density = intensive property

• If an extensive property is represented as:

1. Per unit mass

2. Per unit mole
3. Per unit volume

it becomes an intensive property.

Example: Specific Heat Capacity = Heat capacity per unit mass

Heat Capacity = Extensive property

Specific Heat Capacity = Intensive property

Molar Heat Capacity = Heat capacity per unit mole

Heat Capacity = Extensive property

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Molar Heat Capacity = Intensive property

Important Note:

Extensive Intensive
Enthalpy Molar Enthalpy
Entropy Molar Entropy
Gibbs Free Energy Molar Gibbs Free Energy

Keep remember these terms, when we count them in per unit mole, per unit mass or per unit mole then it
becomes intensive property.

• Intensive properties are non-additive in nature, whereas extensive property are additive in nature.

Example: If we add the contents of two container having masses M1 and M2 and the temperature T1
and T2 respectively, then the mass of the resultant container will be M1+M2, but the temperature will
never be defined as T1+T2.

Because temperature is an intensive property. And Mass is an extensive property.

All the best!!

Team Gradeup

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Quiz list for Thermodynamics

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