Energetics:

Here are some important basic concepts regarding the study of energetics:

Energy is the capacity to do work or produce heat.

The joule, J, is the SI unit for energy, but in chemistry kJ is more often used. By
definition: 1 J = 1 N m = 1 kg m2 s-2. In more practical terms, 4.184 J is the energy
required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 K or °C.

The First Law of Thermodynamics (i.e. the Law of Conservation of Energy) is that
energy can neither be created nor destroyed during chemical reactions. This means
that the total energy content of the universe is constant. Energy can be converted from
one form of energy to another during both chemical and physical processes, but the same
total quantity of energy exists before and after any process.

There are many types of energy:

kinetic energy various other forms of potential energy:
chemical potential energy gravitational potential
electromagnetic radiation electrical potential
nuclear potential energy magnetic potential

The two main forms of energy that will be relevant in this section are kinetic energy and
chemical potential energy. In relation to the First Law of Thermodynamics, a given
quantity of potential energy could be converted into an equal quantity of kinetic energy.

Kinetic Energy:

Kinetic energy is energy of motion.

Temperature (T) is a measure of the average kinetic energy of a group of particles.

Heat (q) is a quantity of kinetic energy which is typically transferred as a result of a

difference in temperature.

Heat flows from warmer regions to cooler regions. Particles from the warmer region
have more kinetic energy than those in the cooler region. When more energetic particles
collide with less energetic ones, energy is transferred during the collisions. The transfer
of heat continues until the temperature is equalized and a state of thermal equilibrium is
established.

The convention in chemistry is that heat losses are given negative values, and heat
gains are given positive values. When heat is transferred, the quantity of heat lost from
one region equals the quantity of heat gained by the other region.
-qlost = qgained
The negative sign is necessary because qlost and qgained have opposite signs.
Calculating Heats Transferred due to Changes in Temperature: This can be done
using the following simple equation:
q = m⋅CP⋅ΔT
where: q is the heat lost or gained by the substance
m is the mass of the substance
ΔT is the change in temperature (i.e. Tfinal – Tinitial ) of the substance
Cp stands for specific heat capacity of the substance

 Note that q will be negative (i.e. a loss of heat) if the temperature decreases.

Specific heat capacity is the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of a

substance by 1°C.

 Different substances have different Cp’s.

 Cp’s are constant over a range of T for solids and liquids but not for gases.
! !
 The units of Cp are !∙℃ = !∙! .
!
 The Cp for liquid water is 4.184 !∙! . This is a very high Cp.

Sample question #1: Calculate the heat flow associated with 150.0 g of H2O(l) changing
temperature from 80.0°C to 23.5°C.

q = m⋅CP⋅ΔT
!
q = (150.0 g)( 4.184 !∙!)(23.5°C - 80.0°C)
!
q = (150.0 g)( 4.184 !∙!)(-56.5 K) ΔTC = ΔTK
q = -35 459.4 J
q = -35.5 kJ The sample of H2O would lose 35.5 kJ of heat.
________________________________________________________________________

Water’s very high specific heat

capacity makes it resistant to
temperature change, and thus
large bodies of water have a
significant moderating effect on
temperature. Consider the data
provided in the graph.

Winnipeg is far from the ocean and

thus has more variable
temperature over the course of a
year. Vancouver has a typical
marine climate. Being on the east
coast, Halifax’s “weather” comes
from the west overland but it is still
a coastal city. Note: Data from Environment Canada website, 2013, Environment Canada.
Calorimetry is the measurement of heat flow. Specific heat capacities of materials and
energy changes of reactions can be measured using calorimetry.

A calorimeter is an instrument used to measure heat flow. An object or a chemical

reaction is used to heat or cool water in the calorimeter. If the mass of the water and the
temperature change of the water are known, the number of joules can be easily
calculated. The main assumption made when doing calorimetry is that heat is transferred
with 100% efficiency between the object or chemical reaction and the water in the
calorimeter. If the calorimeter absorbs heat, or heat is lost from the calorimeter into the
environment, or vice versa, then the transfer is not 100% efficient; these constitute
sources of systematic error.

Simple Coffee-Cup Calorimeter1: More Sophisticated Calorimeter2:

1
Note: From Coffee-Cup Calorimetry, Chemistry 301, 2013, University of Texas.
2
Note: From Chemistry: Fourth Edition, 2004, John McMurry and Robert Fay.

Sample question #2: A 82.64 g piece of iron at 99.8°C was dropped into 175.00 g of
water at 21.0°C in a coffee-cup calorimeter. Calculate the final temperature once the iron
and water reach thermal equilibrium. Assume thermal homogeneity, no heat loss, and
that the specific heat capacity of iron is 0.447 J g-1 K-1.
-qlost by metal = qgained by water
-(82.64 g)(0.447 J g-1 K-1)(Tf - 99.8°C) = (175.00 g)(4.184 J g-1 K-1)(Tf - 21.0°C)
-(82.64)(0.447)(Tf - 99.8) = (175.00)(4.184)(Tf - 21.0)
(-0.050451)(Tf - 99.8) = Tf - 21.0
-0.050451Tf + 5.03499 = Tf - 21.0
26.03499 = 1.050451Tf
Tf = 24.8°C
Sample question #3: A 117.73 g piece of unknown metal at 100.0°C was dropped into
85.00 g of water at 25.0°C contained in a sealed aluminum calorimeter weighing 18.0 g.
Assume that specific heat capacity of the calorimeter was 0.904 J g-1 K-1, and that it was
at the same initial temperature as the water. The final temperature once the unknown
metal, water, and calorimeter reached thermal equilibrium was 35.6°C. Assuming
thermal homogeneity and that no heat was lost beyond the calorimeter, calculate the
specific heat capacity of the unknown metal.
-qlost by metal = qgained by water + qgained by calorimeter
-(117.73g)(Cp)(35.6°C-100.0°C) = (85.00g)(4.184Jg-1K-1)(35.6°C-25.0°C)+(18.0g)(0.904Jg-1K-1)(35.6°C-25.0°C)

-(117.73)(Cp)(-64.4)=(85.00)(4.184)(10.6)+(18.0)(0.904)(10.6)
(7581.81)CP = 3769.78 + 172.48
(7581.81)CP = 3942.26
CP = 0.520 J g-1 K-1

________________________________________________________________________

Kinetic Energy Questions:

#1.1 The specific heat capacity of silver is 0.24 J g-1 K-1.

(a) Calculate the energy required to raise the temperature of 150.0 g of silver from
273 K to 298 K.
(b) Calculate the energy required to raise the temperature of 1.0 mol Ag by 1.0°C
(called the molar heat capacity of silver).

#2.1 It takes 78.2 J to raise the temperature of 45.6 g of lead by 13.3°C. Calculate the
specific heat capacity and molar heat capacity of lead.

#3.1 A 150.0 g sample of a metal at 75.0°C is added to 150.0 g of H2O at 15.0°C. The
temperature of the water rises to 18.3°C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the
metal. Assume that all of the heat lost by the metal is gained by the water.

#4.1 A 30.0 g sample of water at 2.80×102 K is mixed with 50.0 g of water at 3.30×102
K. Calculate the final temperature of the mixture assuming no heat loss to the
surroundings.

#5. A 107.79 g piece of iron at 99.6°C was dropped into 98.94 g of water at 25.3°C
contained in a sealed styrofoam calorimeter weighing 2.13 g that was at the same
initial temperature as the water. The specific heat capacity of iron is 0.447 J g-1 K-1.
The final temperature once the iron, water, and calorimeter reached thermal
equilibrium was 33.0°C. Assuming thermal homogeneity and that no heat was lost
beyond the calorimeter, calculate the specific heat capacity of the styrofoam used to
make the calorimeter.
1
Note: From Chemistry, Third Edition, 1993, Steven Zumdahl.