Thermochemistry

‰ Basic Concepts
‰ Enthalpy of Reactions
‰ Enthalpy Changes
‰ Hess’s law

Thermochemistry
An area of Thermodynamics (studies the relationship
between heat and other forms of energy)
Definition: Thermochemistry
is the study of the heat
absorbed or evolved by
chemical reactions

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

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 What is Energy?
Energy is the ability to do work. There are many
different forms of energy -
e.g.

First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created

or destroyed, only converted

Everything has what is referred to as Internal Energy, U

sum of all the kinetic and potential energies of

Potential Energy?
Potential Energy: is due to the relative position of the body
Example -

Kinetic energy
Energy

Potential energy

time

¨ At the 2 extremes the molecule has a high PE and

¨ As the molecule passes rapidly through the linear equilibrium position is

has zero PE and maximum KE
 

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 Energy and its units
The unit of energy, work and heat is the Joule (J)
– Each beat of the human heart uses about 1J of
energy and to lift a text book of chemistry from the
floor to a table is around 15 J :

– Mostly, because of the large values involved in

chemical changes, kilo Joules (kJ) are used

Basic Concepts
Definition: Heat (given the symbol q) is defined as the
energy that flows in or out of a system because of a
temperature difference between the system and
surroundings

q is positive
q is negative

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 Heat Capacity
How can we measure heat, including heat of reaction?

q Definition: The heat

capacity of an object is the
heat required (q) to raise
T+1 its temperature by 1oC (1
K).

q (J) = C(J K-1) x ∆T(K)

Note: that the value of ∆T is the same whether units of oC or K are used

Heat Capacity
Example: It requires 100 kJ of energy to heat a cup and
the tea inside from 20oC to 60oC.
What is the heat capacity of the cup and the tea?

Remember: heat capacity C is a property of the entire object

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 Specific Heat Capacity
Definition: The specific heat capacity (usually called
the specific heat) is the heat capacity per gram of
material

Substance Specific heat capacity (J K-1 g-1)

air 1.01
copper 0.38
polyethylene 2.30
Water vapour
Water liquid 4.18
Water solid

Specific Heat Capacity

Example: Calculate the amount of heat required to raise
the temperature of 500g of copper from 25oC to 75oC.

Example: Calculate the amount of heat required to raise the

temperature of a 500g copper beaker containing 100 g of
water from 25oC to 75oC.

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 Molar Heat Capacity
Definition: The molar heat capacity (Cm) is the heat
capacity per mole of substance

Cm can be calculated from the specific heat capacity

Substance C (J K-1 g-1) Cm (J K-1 g-1)

copper 0.38 24.2
Water vapour 2.01 36.2
Water liquid 4.18 75.2
Water solid 2.03 36.5

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