Important Questions for Class 11

Chemistry
Chapter 6 – Thermodynamics

Very Short Answer Questions 1 Mark

1. Define a system

Ans: A system in thermodynamics is a part of the universe within a specified

boundary.

2. Define surroundings

Ans: The remaining of the universe which might be in a position to exchange energy
and matter with the system is termed its surroundings.

3. State the first law of thermodynamics

Ans: The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor
be destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another.

4. What kind of system is the coffee held in a cup?

Ans: Coffee held in a cup is an open system because it can exchange matter (water
vapour and energy (heat) with the surroundings.

5. Give an example of an isolated system

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Ans: Coffee held in a thermos flask is an example of an isolated system because it
can neither exchange energy nor matter with the surroundings.

6. Name the different types of the system.

Ans: There are three types of system

(i) Open system

(ii) Closed system

(iii) Isolated system

7. What will happen to internal energy if work is done by the system?

Ans: There is a decrease in internal energy of the system if work is done by the
system.

8. From a thermodynamic point of view, to which system the animals and plants
belong?

Ans: Open system

9. How may the state of the thermodynamic system be defined?

Ans: The state of the thermodynamic system can be defined by specifying values of
state variables like temperature, pressure and volume.

10. Define enthalpy

Ans: It is defined as the total heat content of the system.

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11. Give the mathematical expression of enthalpy.

Ans: Mathematically H  U  PV where U is internal energy

12. When is enthalpy change H -

(i) positive (ii) negative.

Ans:

(i) In an endothermic reaction it absorbs heat from the surroundings so enthalpy

change in positive

(ii) In an exothermic reaction heat is evolved so enthalpy change is negative.

13. Give the expression for

(i) isothermal irreversible change, and isothermal reversible change

Ans: For isothermal reversible change

Q  w

Q  pext (V f  Vi )

For isothermal reversible change

Q  w

 Vf 
Q  2.303nRT log  
 Vi 

14. Define Heat capacity

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Ans: Specific heat /specific heat capacity is the quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin).

15. Define specific heat.

Ans: Specific heat /specific heat capacity is the quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin).

16. Give the mathematical expression of heat capacity.

Ans: The mathematical expression of heat capacity is as follows

q  mcT

If,

m 1

q  C T

17. Define reaction enthalpy.

Ans: The enthalpy change concerning a reaction is termed as reaction enthalpy.

18. Define standard enthalpy.

Ans: The standard enthalpy of reaction is defined as the enthalpy change for a
reaction is the enthalpy change for a reaction when all the participating substances
are in their standard states.

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19. The standard heat of formation of Fe2O3 is 824.2 kJ mol - 1 . Calculate heat
change for the reaction. 4Fe(s)  3O2 ( g )  2Fe2O3 ( s)

Ans:

 H R  [2  H f o (Fe2O3 ( s))  [4H f o (Fe( s))  3  H f o (O2 )]

 H R  [2  H f o (Fe2O3 ( s))  [4H f o (Fe(s))  3  H f o (O2 )]
 H R  [2  H f o (Fe2O3 ( s))  [4H f o (Fe( s))  3  H f o (O2 )]

20. Define spontaneous process.

Ans: A process which occurs without use of an external agent is termed as

spontaneous process.

21. Define non-spontaneous processes.

Ans: A process which occurs with the use of an external agent is termed as
spontaneous process.

22. What is the sign of enthalpy of formation of a highly stable compound?

Ans: Negative

23. Predict the sign of S for the following reaction

CaCO3 ( s)  CaO( s)  CO2 ( g )

Ans: S is positive

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24. Two ideal gases under the same pressure and temperature are allowed to
mix in an isolated system – what will be a sign of entropy change?

Ans: Entropy change is positive since degree of disorderness decreases on mixing.

Short Answer Questions 2 Marks

25. Change in internal energy is a state function while work is not, why?

Ans: In a process, the change in internal energy depends upon the initial and final
state of the system. Therefore, it is a state function. But work is dependent on the
path followed. Therefore, it is not a state function.

26. With the help of first law of thermodynamics and H = U + pV prove H  q p

Ans: Enthalpy is defined as follows

H  U  pV

H  (U  pV )

H  U   ( pV )

H  U  pV  V p ……(i)

From first law of thermodynamics,

U  q  w

 q  p V

From equation (i) and (ii), we get

H  q  pV  pV  V p

H  q  V p

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At constant pressure,

p  0

V p  0

H  q p at constant pressure

Therefore, H  q p

27. Why is the difference between H and U not significant for solids or
liquids?

Ans: The difference between H and U is not significant for solids or liquids
because systems made up entirely of solids and/or liquids do not experience
significant volume changes when heated, the difference between and is usually
insignificant.

28. What is an extensive and intensive property?

Ans: Extensive property is defined as the property which depends on the quantity or
size of the matter present in the system.

Intensive property is defined as the property which depends on the quantity or size
of matter present in the system.

29. Show that for an ideal gas CP  CV  R

Ans: At constant pressure, when gas is heated, heat is required for increase in the
temperature of gas and for doing mechanical work against expansion. At constant
volume, heat capacity is written as CV and at constant pressure it is written as CP .

At constant volume qv  CV T which is equal to U

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At constant pressure qP  CP T which is equal to H

For one mole ideal gas H  U  ( PV )

H  U   ( RT )

H  U  RT

H  U  RT

On substituting values of H, U , we have

CP T  CV T  RT

CP  CV  R

CP  CV  R

30. Show that for an ideal gas, the molar heat capacity under constant volume
3
conditions is equal to R.
2

Ans: For an ideal gas, the average kinetic energy per mole of the gas at any
3
temperature is given by Ek  RT
2

Hence increase in average kinetic energy of gas for 1o C rise in temperature is

3 3
 Ek  R(T  1)  RT
2 2

By definition, EK is the molar heat capacity of gas at constant volume CV

3
 CV  R
2

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31. A 1.25g sample of octane ( C18 H18 ) is burnt in excess of oxygen in a bomb
calorimeter. The temperature of the calorimeter rises from 294.05 to 300.78 K .
If heat capacity of the calorimeter is 8.93 KJ K - 1 . Find the heat transferred to
calorimeter.

Ans: Mass of octane,

M  1.250 g

M  0.00125

Heat capacity, c  8.93 KJ K - 1

Increase in temperature, T  300.78  294.05

T  6.73 K

So, the heat transferred to calorimeter is

mcT  0.00125  8.93 6.73

 0.075 KJ

32. Calculate the heat of combustion of ethylene (gas) to from CO 2 (gas) and
H 2O (gas) at 298 K and 1 atmospheric pressure. The heats of formation of CO 2 ,
H 2O and C 2 H 4 are 393.7 , 241.8 , 52.3 kJ per mole respectively.

Ans: The combustion reaction of ethylene gas is as follows

C2 H 4  3O2  2CO2 ( g )  2H 2O( g )

H f (CO2 )  393.7 KJ

H f (H2O)  241.8 KJ

H f (C 2 H 4 )  52.7 KJ

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H R   H f o ( p)   H f o (r )

H R  [2  H f o (CO2 )  2  H f o (H 2O)]  [H f o (C2 H 4 )  3  H f o (O2 )]

H R  [2  393.7  2  241.8]  [523  0]

Enthalpy of formation is zero for elementary change

H R  1323.3 KJ

33. Give two examples of reactions which are driven by enthalpy change.

Ans: The examples of reactions which are driven by enthalpy change is as follows.
For a highly exothermic process its enthalpy change is negative and large value but
entropy change is negative is driven by enthalpy change.

1
(i) H 2 ( g )  O 2 ( g )  H 2O(l )
2

H f o  285.8 kJ mol - 1

(ii) N 2 ( g )  3H 2 ( g )  2NH3 ( g )

H of  92 kJ mol - 1

34. Will the heat released in the following two reactions be equal? Give reasons
in support of your answer

1
(i) H 2 ( g )  O2 ( g )  H 2O( g )
2

1
(ii) H 2 ( g )  O 2 ( g )  H 2O(l )
2

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Ans: The heats released in the two reactions are not equal. The heat released in a
reaction depends on the reactants, products and the physical states.

In reaction:

(i) Water is produced in the gaseous state whereas in

(ii) It is in liquid state.

Also, when water vapors condensed to form water latent heat of vaporization is
released. Therefore, more heat is released in reaction (ii).

35. What is the relation between the enthalpy of reaction and bond enthalpy?

Ans: In a chemical reaction the breaking of bonds and formation of new bonds in
products takes place. The heat of reaction is dependent on the values needed to break
the bond formation. Thus

Heat of reaction = Heat required for breaking of bonds in reactants  Heat required
for breaking of bonds in products

H o  Bond energy is required to break the bonds - Bond energy required to form
the bonds = Bond energy of reactants – Bond energy of products.

36. The reaction C( graphite)  O2 ( g )  CO2 ( g )  393.5 kJ mol - 1 represents the

formation of CO 2 and also combustion of carbon. Write the H o values of the
two processes.

Ans: The standard enthalpy of formation of CO 2 is 393.5 kJ mol - 1 of CO 2

H of (CO2 ( g ))  393.5 kJ mol - 1

The standard enthalpy of formation of combustion of carbon is - 393.5 kJmol - 1

Hcomb (CO2 ( g ))   393.5 kJ mol - 1

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37. Explain how is enthalpy related to spontaneity of a reaction?

Ans: Most of the exothermic reactions are spontaneous due to an increase in energy.

Burning a substance is a spontaneous process.

C( s)  O2 ( g )  CO2 ( g ) , H   394 kJ mol - 1

Many spontaneous reactions start with the absorption of heat. Conversion of water
into water vapour is an endothermic spontaneous reaction. Hence the change in
enthalpy is not the only criteria for deciding the spontaneity of the reaction.

38. The H and S for 2Ag 2O( s)  4Ag( s)  O2 ( g ) are given 61.17 kJ mol - 1 and
132 Jk - 1mol - 1 respectively. Above what temperature will the reaction be
spontaneous?

Ans: From the above question we have H and S for 2Ag 2O( s)  4Ag( s)  O2 ( g ) are
given as 61.17 kJ mol - 1 and 132 Jk - 1mol - 1 respectively.

As per the Gibbs Helmholtz equation, G  H  T S

Here, G is the change in Gibbs free energy, H is the change in the enthalpy, T is
the absolute temperature.

For the reaction 2Ag 2O( s)  4Ag( s)  O2 ( g )

It is spontaneous when G is negative.

Here H , S is positive. So G is negative when H  T S

H
T
S

61170 mol - 1
T
132 Jk - 1mol - 1

T  463.4K

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Therefore, the process is spontaneous above a temperature of T  463.4K .

Long Answer Questions 3 Marks

39. Give the relationship between H and U for gases.

Ans: For an appreciable volume change,

Let V A represent the volume of gaseous reactants

Let VB represent the volume of gaseous products

Let n A be the moles of reactant

Let nB be the moles of product

At constant pressure and temperature

pVA  nA RT

pVB  nB RT

pVB  pVA  (nB  nA ) RT

pV  ng RT

n g  nB  n A

Now substituting the value of pV , we get

H  U  ng RT

Heat change at constant pressure, H  q p

Heat change at constant temperature, H  qV

For gaseous system

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qP  qV  ng RT

40. It has been found that 221.4 J is needed to heat 30 g of ethanol from 15o C to
18o C . Calculate:

(a) specific heat capacity

Ans: From the question we have 221.4 J of energy is needed to heat 30 g of ethanol
from15o C to 18o C .

Since, specific heat capacity is given by the formula,

q
c
m T

q  221.4 J

m  30g

221.1J
C
30g(18 C  15 C)

221.4
C
30  3

C  2.46 Jg - 1 o c - 1

As 1o C is equal to 1K , therefore specific heat capacity of ethanol is C  2.46 Jg 1 c1

(b) Molar heat capacity of ethanol.

Molar heat capacity is product of specific heat and molar mass

Cm  2.46  46

Cm  113.2J mol - 1 o C - 1

Therefore, molar heat capacity of ethanol is Cm  113.2J mol - 1 o C - 1

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