Thermodynamics studies energy changes in chemical reactions from "summary" of NCERT Chemistry Class 11 - [CBSE Board] by Dr. S. C. Rastogi, ,Er. Meera Goyal
Thermodynamics is the branch of chemistry that deals with the study of energy changes that occur during chemical reactions. It helps us understand how energy is transferred and transformed in chemical systems. By studying thermodynamics, we can predict the feasibility of a reaction, as well as the direction it will take. Energy changes in chemical reactions are classified as either exothermic or endothermic. Exothermic reactions release energy in the form of heat, while endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surroundings. These energy changes can be measured using calorimetry, which involves measuring the temperature change that occurs during a reaction. One important concept in thermodynamics is enthalpy, which is the heat content of a system at constant pressure. Enthalpy change (∆H) is a measure of the amount of heat absorbed or released during a reaction. A negative ∆H indicates an exothermic reaction, while a positive ∆H indicates an endothermic reaction. Another key concept in thermodynamics is entropy, which is a measure of the randomness or disorder in a system. The change in entropy (∆S) of a system can help us determine whether a reaction is spontaneous or non-spontaneous. A positive ∆S indicates an increase in disorder, while a negative ∆S indicates a decrease in disorder. The Gibbs free energy (∆G) is a thermodynamic function that combines the effects of enthalpy and entropy to predict whether a reaction will be spontaneous or non-spontaneous. A negative ∆G indicates a spontaneous reaction, while a positive ∆G indicates a non-spontaneous reaction.- Thermodynamics plays a crucial role in understanding the energy changes that occur in chemical reactions. By studying thermodynamics, we can make informed decisions about the feasibility and direction of reactions, as well as gain insight into the underlying principles of energy transfer and transformation in chemical systems.
