5: Thermochemistry

A general chemistry Libretexts Textmap organized around the textbook

 Chemistry: The Central Science

by Brown, LeMay, Busten, Murphy, and Woodward

This chapter introduces you to thermochemistry, a branch of chemistry that describes the energy changes that occur during
chemical reactions. In some situations, the energy produced by chemical reactions is actually of greater interest to chemists
than the material products of the reaction. For example, the controlled combustion of organic molecules, primarily sugars and
fats, within our cells provides the energy for physical activity, thought, and other complex chemical transformations that occur
in our bodies. Similarly, our energy-intensive society extracts energy from the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal,
petroleum, and natural gas, to manufacture clothing and furniture, heat your home in winter and cool it in summer, and power
the car or bus that gets you to class and to the movies. By the end of this chapter, you will know enough about
thermochemistry to explain why ice cubes cool a glass of soda, how instant cold packs and hot packs work, and why
swimming pools and waterbeds are heated. You will also understand what factors determine the caloric content of your diet
and why even “nonpolluting” uses of fossil fuels may be affecting the environment.

5.1: The Nature of Energy

All forms of energy can be interconverted. Three things can change the energy of an object: the transfer of heat, work
performed on or by an object, or some combination of heat and work. Thermochemistry is a branch of chemistry that
qualitatively and quantitatively describes the energy changes that occur during chemical reactions. Energy is the
capacity to do work.

5.2: The First Law of Thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics states that the energy of the universe is constant. The change in the internal energy of
a system is the sum of the heat transferred and the work done. At constant pressure, heat flow (q) and internal energy
(U) are related to the system’s enthalpy (H). The heat flow is equal to the change in the internal energy.

5.3: Enthalpy
At constant pressure, heat flow (q) and internal energy (U) are related to the system’s enthalpy (H).

5.4: Enthalpy of Reaction

For a chemical reaction, the enthalpy of reaction (ΔH ) is the difference in enthalpy between products and reactants;
rxn

the units of ΔH are kilojoules per mole. Reversing a chemical reaction reverses the sign of ΔH .
rxn rxn

5.5: Calorimetry
Calorimetry measures enthalpy changes during chemical processes, where the magnitude of the temperature change
depends on the amount of heat released or absorbed and on the heat capacity of the system. It uses devices called
calorimeters, which measure the change in temperature when a chemical reaction is carried out. The magnitude of the
temperature change depends on the amount of heat released or absorbed and on the heat capacity of the system
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 temperature change depends on the amount of heat released or absorbed and on the heat capacity of the system.

5.6: Hess's Law

Hess's law argues that for a chemical reaction, the enthalpy of reaction (ΔHrxn) is the difference in enthalpy between
products and reactants; the units of ΔHrxn are kilojoules per mole. Reversing a chemical reaction reverses the sign of
ΔHrxn. The magnitude of ΔHrxn also depends on the physical state of the reactants and the products because processes
such as melting solids or vaporizing liquids are also accompanied by enthalpy changes: the enthalpy of fusion
(ΔHfus) and the enthalpy of vaporiz

5.7: Enthalpies of Formation

The standard state for measuring and reporting enthalpies of formation or reaction is 25 oC and 1 atm. The elemental
form of each atom is that with the lowest enthalpy in the standard state. The standard state heat of formation for the
elemental form of each atom is zero. The enthalpy of formation (ΔHf) is the enthalpy change that accompanies the
formation of a compound from its elements. Standard enthalpies of formation (ΔHof) are determined under standard
conditions: a pressure of 1 atm for ga

5.8: Foods and Fuels

Thermochemical concepts can be applied to determine the actual energy available in food. The nutritional Calorie is
equivalent to 1 kcal (4.184 kJ). The caloric content of a food is its ΔH
comb per gram. The typical caloric contents for
food are 9 Cal/g for fats, 4 Cal/g for carbohydrates and proteins, and 0 Cal/g for water and minerals.

5.E: Thermochemistry (Exercises)

These are homework exercises to accompany the Textmap created for "Chemistry: The Central Science" by Brown et
al.

5.S: Thermochemistry (Summary)

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