Thermodynamics and Kinetics

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AP Chemistry › Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Questions 1 - 10
1

A chemistry student is trying to calculate how long it will take a power source of to heat a sample of ice from to . Given that the specific heat capacity of ice is , the specific heat capacity of liquid water is , and the heat of fusion for water is , how long will this process take?

There is not enough information to determine the amount of time needed for the process described

Explanation

In order to solve this problem, we'll need to break it up into steps.

Step 1: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to raise the sample of ice from to . To do this, we'll need to use the following equation:

Step 2: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to convert the sample at from ice to water. We'll need to make use of the following equation:

Step 3: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to convert the sample of water from to .

Step 4: Sum the amount of energy from the previous 3 steps. This value is the total amount of energy for the entire process.

Step 5: Now that we know the total amount of energy needed for the process, we need to calculate the time based on the amount of power provided.

2

Which of the following is a law of thermodynamics?

ΔH (system) + ΔH (surroundings) = ΔH (universe)

ΔS (system) + ΔS (surroundings) = ΔS (universe)

ΔE (surroundings) = ΔE (system)

The entropy of the universe is always decreasing

Explanation

The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of the system and the entropy of the surroundings is equal to the entropy of the universe. The rest of the answer choices are not one of the fundamental laws of themodynamics.

3

Which of the following is true regarding the first law of thermodynamics?

It states that the heat lost by a system is gained by the surroundings

Conversion of kinetic energy to potential energy violates the first law of thermodynamics

It states that the disorder in the universe is always increasing

An exothermic reaction always destroys energy, whereas an endothermic reaction always creates energy

Explanation

First law of thermodynamics states that the energy of the universe is always constant. This is called the conservation of energy. The total energy of the universe is defined as follows:

According to the law, energy gained or lost by a system is reciprocated by its surroundings. This means that energy, such as heat energy, lost by the system will be gained by the surroundings. This will keep the total energy constant. Energy can be converted from one form to another (such as from kinetic to potential); however, it cannot be created or destroyed.

The second law of thermodynamics states that the disorder of the universe is always increasing. As mentioned, energy can never be created, nor destroyed. In an exothermic reaction, heat energy is transferred from the system to the surroundings. In an endothermic reaction, heat energy is transferred from the surroundings to the system.

4

Which of the following substances will have the lowest entropy?

Product of a freezing reaction

Product of a vaporization reaction

Liquid water

Water vapor

Explanation

Entropy is a measure of disorder; therefore, a substance with low entropy will be highly ordered. Gases have the highest entropy because the molecules are spread far apart and are more chaotic. Solids, on the other hand, have the least entropy because they are typically found in an ordered, lattice structure with very little chaos. A freezing reaction involves conversion of a liquid to a solid; therefore, the product of this reaction will have the lowest entropy.

5

A researcher creates a perfect crystal and stores it at . What can you conclude about this substance?

I. The entropy of this substance is less than zero

II. It will have more microstates than gaseous nitrogen

III. Its Gibbs free energy is equal to its enthalpy

III only

I only

I and III

II and III

Explanation

The third law of thermodynamics states that a perfect crystal at absolute zero ( or ) has an entropy of zero (lowest possible entropy). Note that entropy can never be less than zero.

Microstates are microscopic configurations of a substance, and relates directly to the entropy of the system. The more microstates, the higher the entropy. Since this substance has the lowest entropy it will have the least amount of microstates.

To understand the relationship between Gibbs free energy and enthalpy, we need to look at the following equation:

Here, is change in Gibbs free energy, is enthalpy, is change in entropy, and is the temperature in Kelvin. From the given information, we know that both temperature and entropy are zero; therefore, Gibbs free energy equals the enthalpy for this substance.

6

Which of the following statements is true with respect to reactions involving enzymes?

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is increased

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is decreased

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the right

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the left

Explanation

For this question, we're asked to select a true statement regarding reactions that are influenced by enzymes.

When thinking about how enzymes affect reactions, its important to draw a distinction between kinetics and thermodynamics. Enzymes increase a reaction's rate, but they don't change the equilibrium of a reaction. In other words, they make reactions go faster, but they don't make reactions go.

Since enzymes don't affect equilibrium, we can rule out two of the answer choices. Moreover, we know that enzymes increase the reaction rate by lower the activation energy. Consequently, this raises the rate constant for the reaction.

7

Which of the following statements is true with respect to reactions involving enzymes?

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is increased

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is decreased

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the right

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the left

Explanation

For this question, we're asked to select a true statement regarding reactions that are influenced by enzymes.

When thinking about how enzymes affect reactions, its important to draw a distinction between kinetics and thermodynamics. Enzymes increase a reaction's rate, but they don't change the equilibrium of a reaction. In other words, they make reactions go faster, but they don't make reactions go.

Since enzymes don't affect equilibrium, we can rule out two of the answer choices. Moreover, we know that enzymes increase the reaction rate by lower the activation energy. Consequently, this raises the rate constant for the reaction.

8

Which of the following is true regarding an enzyme-catalyzed reaction?

The rate of the forward reaction and the reverse reaction both increase

The reaction is driven towards the right

The reaction is driven towards the left

The reaction becomes more exergonic

Explanation

For this question, we need to determine a true statement with regard to reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes.

To answer this, it's important to distinguish between the thermodynamics of a reaction and the kinetics. When adding an enzyme, the activation energy for the reaction is lowered. What this means is that it becomes easier for the reactants to achieve the high-energy transition state on their way to becoming product. Thus, enzymes affect the kinetics of a reaction by increasing both the forward rate and the reverse rate.

But if we look at the thermodynamics of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, there is no change. In other words, the difference in free energy between the reactants and the products remains the same, regardless of the presence of enzyme. Thus, an enzyme will not cause a reaction to change its equilibrium position; it cannot shift a reaction towards the left or towards the right.

Because the thermodynamics of the reaction remain unchanged, the reaction will not become more exergonic, nor will it become more endergonic. Furthermore, the equilibrium of the reaction will not shift.

9

Which of the following statements is true with respect to reactions involving enzymes?

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is increased

In the presence of enzyme, the rate constant is decreased

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the right

In the presence of enzyme, the equilibrium is shifted to the left

Explanation

For this question, we're asked to select a true statement regarding reactions that are influenced by enzymes.

When thinking about how enzymes affect reactions, its important to draw a distinction between kinetics and thermodynamics. Enzymes increase a reaction's rate, but they don't change the equilibrium of a reaction. In other words, they make reactions go faster, but they don't make reactions go.

Since enzymes don't affect equilibrium, we can rule out two of the answer choices. Moreover, we know that enzymes increase the reaction rate by lower the activation energy. Consequently, this raises the rate constant for the reaction.

10

Which of the following is true regarding an enzyme-catalyzed reaction?

The rate of the forward reaction and the reverse reaction both increase

The reaction is driven towards the right

The reaction is driven towards the left

The reaction becomes more exergonic

Explanation

For this question, we need to determine a true statement with regard to reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes.

To answer this, it's important to distinguish between the thermodynamics of a reaction and the kinetics. When adding an enzyme, the activation energy for the reaction is lowered. What this means is that it becomes easier for the reactants to achieve the high-energy transition state on their way to becoming product. Thus, enzymes affect the kinetics of a reaction by increasing both the forward rate and the reverse rate.

But if we look at the thermodynamics of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, there is no change. In other words, the difference in free energy between the reactants and the products remains the same, regardless of the presence of enzyme. Thus, an enzyme will not cause a reaction to change its equilibrium position; it cannot shift a reaction towards the left or towards the right.

Because the thermodynamics of the reaction remain unchanged, the reaction will not become more exergonic, nor will it become more endergonic. Furthermore, the equilibrium of the reaction will not shift.

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