The total energy possessed by a system. When a system undergoes a change, the change in internal energy, ⌂E, is defined as the heat, q, added to the system, plus the work, w, done on the system by its surroundings: ⌂E = q + w.
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System
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In thermodynamics, the portion of the universe that we single out for study. We must be careful to state exactly what the system contains and what transfers of energy it may have with its surroundings.
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Specific Heat
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The heat capacity of 1 g of a substance; the heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of a substance by 1°.
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Enthalpy
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A quantity defined by the relationship H = E + PV; the enthalpy change, ⌂H, for a reaction that occurs at constant pressure is the heat evolved or absorbed in the reaction: ⌂H = qp.
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Enthalpy of Reaction
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The enthalpy change associated with a chemical reaction.
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Thermodynamics
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The study of energy and its transformation.
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Endothermic
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A process in which a system absorbs heat from its surroundings.
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Force
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A push or a pull.
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Heat
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The flow of energy from a body at higher temperature to one at lower temperature when they are placed in thermal contact.
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State Function
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A property of a system that is determined by the state or condition of the system and not by how it got to that state; its value is fixed when temperature, pressure, composition, and physical form are specified; P,V,T,E, and H are state functions.
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Bomb Calorimeter
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A device for measuring the heat evolved in the combustion of a substance under constant-volume conditions.
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Thermochemistry
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Enthalpy of Formation
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The enthalpy change that accompanies the formation of a substance from the most stable forms of its component elements.
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Standard Enthalpy Change (⌂H°)
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The change in enthalpy in a process when all reactants and products are in their stable forms at 1 atm pressure and a specified temperature, commonly 25°C.
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Fuel Value
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The energy released when 1 g of a substance is combusted.
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Exothermic
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A process in which a system releases heat to its surroundings.
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Calorimeter
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An apparatus that measures the evolution of heat.
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Joule (J)
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The Si unit of energy. A related unit is the calorie: 4.184J = cal.
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Hess's Law
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The heat evolved in a given process can be expressed as the sum of the heats of several processes that, when added, yield the process of interest.
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Surroundings
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In thermodynamics, everything that lies outside the system that we study.
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Molar Heat Capacity
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The heat required to raise the temperature of one mole of a substance by 1°C.
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Calorimetry
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The experimental measurement of heat produced in chemical and physical processes.
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Standard Enthalpy of Formation (⌂H°f)
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The change in enthalpy that accompanies the formation of one mole of a substance from its elements, with all substance in their standard states.
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Energy
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The capacity to do work or to transfer heat.
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Calorie (cal)
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A unit of energy, it is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1°C from 14.5°C to 15.5°C.
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First Law of Thermodynamics
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A statement of our experience that energy is conserved in any process.
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Heat Capacity
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The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a sample of matter by 1°C( or 1 K).
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Pressure-Volume Work (P-V Work)
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Work performed by expansion of a gas against a resisting pressure.
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Kinetic Energy
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The energy that an object possesses by virtue of its motion.
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Work
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The movement of an object against some force.
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Potential Energy
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The energy that an object possesses as a result of its composition or its position with respect to another object.