ChemBook Chapter:
Chapter 5: Thermodynamics & Fossil Fuels

Learning Outcomes

Students will know...

1. what the first law of thermodynamics is and how it is stated/used
2. what the second law of thermodynamics is and how it is stated/used
3. the difference in endothermic and exothermic reactions/processes
4. the definitions of the system, surroundings, and the universe in thermodynamics
5. the differences in an open, closed, and isolated system
6. how to completely balance combustion reactions
7. how to calculate the total energy available from a given amount of fossil fuel when heat of combustion data is given
8. the mathematical relationships between heat, amount of substance, heat capacity, and temperature change for any given substance (the "mcat" formula)
9. how to calculate heats of various processes using a calorimeter
10. the difference in a bomb calorimeter and a coffee-cup calorimeter
11. how to calculate the specific heat of a metal when given the needed calorimeter experimental data
12. which fuels have the highest kJ/g energy output and the lowest (general trend)
13. the general way in which fossil fuels are extracted from crude oil
14. the purpose and reaction outcome of cracking and reforming on fossil fuels
15. how to use a table of bond energies to calculate the heat (enthalpy) of a reaction
16. how to calculate the heat in/out of a physical change in state (phase change)
17. how to mathematically traverse a heating curve for a substance from solid state to gas state