CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 4

NAME: LAZAR’S group SCORE: _____________________

SECTION: ALU-BSCE-1A

SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

1. Observe the Figure 1.0 in which the influence of temperature to change in enthalpy,
∆H and entropy, ∆S. Write your observations related to the temperature effects on
the space provided.

Figure 1.0 Temperature Effects to Enthalpy and Entropy.

Entropy increases as temperature increases. An increase in temperature means that the

particles of the substance have greater kinetic energy. The faster moving particles have
more disorder than particles that are moving more slowly at a lower temperature.

2. Observe the Figure 2.0, in which there are 4 types of reactions. Using the definition
of Gibbs’ free energy. Identify which is a spontaneous reaction and explain why on
the space provided.
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 4

Figure 2.0. Four types of Reaction described according to thermodynamic properties.

Such a process is spontaneous at high temperatures and nonspontaneous at low

temperatures. Both ΔH and ΔS are negative. This condition describes an exothermic process
that involves a decrease in system entropy. Such a process is spontaneous at low
temperatures and nonspontaneous at high temperatures.
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY ACTIVITY 4

QUESTIONS:

1. Which temperature in Figure 1.0 will maximize the reactants?

ΔH is positive, and TΔS negative, the reaction will be spontaneous at high
temperatures (increasing the magnitude of the entropy term).

2. Which temperature in Figure 1.0 will maximize the products?

Therefore if the reaction is exothermic as written, an increase in TΔS will cause the
reverse reaction to occur, decreasing the amounts of the products 

3. Which reaction type (from Figure 2.0) each of the following reactions would fit into
and explain why.

The reaction of H2 and O2 to form H2O is spontaneous.

we used enthalpy (ΔH) to predict spontaneous because

the water does not freeze at room temperature.

In a spontaneous change, Gibbs energy always decreases and never increases. This of course
reflects the fact that the entropy of the world behaves in the exact opposite way of water
below its freezing point undergoes a decrease in its entropy, but the heat released into the
surroundings more than compensates for this, so the entropy of the world increases, the
free energy of the H2O diminishes, and the process proceeds spontaneously.