MCAT Physical : Thermodynamics of Phase Changes

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Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

A scientist prepares an experiment to demonstrate the second law of thermodynamics for a chemistry class. In order to conduct the experiment, the scientist brings the class outside in January and gathers a cup of water and a portable stove.

的temperature outside is –10 degrees Celsius. The scientist asks the students to consider the following when answering his questions:

Gibbs Free Energy Formula:

ΔG = ΔH – TΔS

Liquid-Solid Water Phase Change Reaction:

H2O(l) ⇌ H2O(s) + X

的scientist prepares two scenarios.

Scenario 1:

的scientist buries the cup of water outside in the snow, returns to the classroom with his class for one hour, and the class then checks on the cup. They find that the water has frozen in the cup.

Scenario 2:

的scientist then places the frozen cup of water on the stove and starts the gas. The class finds that the water melts quickly.

After the water melts, the scientist asks the students to consider two hypothetical scenarios as a thought experiment.

Scenario 3:

Once the liquid water at the end of scenario 2 melts completely, the scientist turns off the gas and monitors what happens to the water. Despite being in the cold air, the water never freezes.

Scenario 4:

的scientist takes the frozen water from the end of scenario 1, puts it on the active stove, and the water remains frozen.

Which of the following are possible quantities for the “X” present on the right side of the Liquid-Solid Water Phase Change Reaction?

I. Entropy

II. Heat

III. Water Vapor

Possible Answers:

I, II, and III

I only

I and II

I and III only

II only

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

As water freezes, it releases heat into the universe to balance the local loss of entropy encountered by ordering atoms into a rigid solid structure. Entropy, in contrast, is not a commodity that can be released by a reaction in the same way as heat. Also, water vapor would not be released on only one side of the equation. Water vapor would exist with in equilibrium with both solid and liquid, but would not appear as an additional product with the solid phase in this reaction.

Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

of energy is added to asample, which undergoes a phase change from liquid to gas as a result. The temperature remains constant throughout the process. What does thequantity represent?

Possible Answers:

Specific heat capacity

Heat of vaporization

Enthalpy of vaporization

Specific heat of vaporization

Correct answer:

Specific heat of vaporization

Explanation:

的energy required to cause a liquid-gas phase change is called the heat of vaporization, and is usually given in the units of kilojoules per mole. Enthalpy of vaporization and heat of vaporization are the same quantity.

When the heat of vaporization is given for a single gram of substance, with the units of Joules per gram, it is termed the specific heat of vaporization. This is the quantity given in the question: the energy required to vaporize exactly one gram of the sample.

Specific heat capacity refers to the energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a sample by one degree Celsius.

Example Question #11 :Phase Changes

以下diagram shows the temperature of a substance as constant heat is supplied. Suppose the substance began in a solid state.

Vaporization_graph2

What is the freezing point of the substance?

Possible Answers:

Y

X

D

B

Correct answer:

X

Explanation:

Freezing point is always a temperature, meaning it must correspond to a single point on the y-axis. During the freezing/melting process, heat is absorbed/released from the system without any change in temperature. This results in the temperature plateau at the freezing point.

While the substance is freezing during interval B, the freezing point is the temperature at which it freezes, X.

Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

以下diagram shows the temperature of a substance as constant heat is supplied. Suppose the substance began in a solid state.

Vaporization_graph2

的slope of the graph is zero at intervals B and D because__________.

Possible Answers:

没有能源供应系统

no phase changes are taking place at these intervals

the substance is undergoing fusion at these intervals

the heat that is supplied is being used to overcome intermolecular forces

Correct answer:

the heat that is supplied is being used to overcome intermolecular forces

Explanation:

在间隔B和D,融合和蒸发are taking place, respectively. Instead of raising the temperature of the substance, the energy that is added during these phase changes is used to overcome intermolecular forces. The energy breaks the attraction between particles, allowing them to separate and gain the properties of a higher energy phase (liquid or gas).

When the slope is not zero, the phase is steady and the added heat energy is used to increase the molecular kinetic energy of the particles, resulting in a temperature increase.

Example Question #13 :Phase Changes

的molar heats of fusion and vaporization for water are given below:

A certain amount of snow is formed in the atmosphere, andof energy is released. How much water was solidified?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the given molar heat of fusion to calculate the amount of snow formed. Remember that heats of fusion and solidification are opposite processes, so the magnitudes of molar heats of fusion and solidification are the same and signs are opposite. This indicates that fusion (melting) is endothermic, while solidification is exothermic.

给定的能量变化将是负面的,因为the question states that it is released from the system into the atmosphere.

摩尔数转换为克,克磅。

Example Question #14 :Phase Changes

的molar heats of fusion and vaporization for water are given below:

of water solidify andof water vaporize within a closed system. What is the change in energy of the surroundings?

Possible Answers:

of energy is absorbed from the surroundings

of energy is released to the surroundings

的system experiences no overall change in energy

of energy is absorbed from the surroundings

Correct answer:

of energy is absorbed from the surroundings

Explanation:

We must use the given heats of fusion and vaporization to calculate the energy change involved in these two processes.

First, calculate the energy change whenof water solidifies. Convert the mass to moles and multiply by the heat released during freezing. This value will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in sign to the heat of fusion.

From this calculation we find thatof heat is released into the surroundings (a negative sign denotes an exothermic process).

Next, find the energy change associated with the vaporization ofof water, using the given heat of vaporization:

We find thatof energy is absorbed when this quantity of water is vaporized.

Adding the two together we find a total of.

Since this is a positive number, that means that the energy is absorbed from the surroundings (endothermic).

Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

的enthalpy of fusion for water is.

的specific heat capacity for ice is.

的specific heat capacity for water is.

How much heat is necessary to raiseof water fromto?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solving this problem means solving for three steps.

1.的heat needed to raise the temperature from –20oC to 0oC.

2. Melting the ice (changing phases).

3. Raising the water temperature from 0oC to 50oC.

Steps 1 and 3 are both solved by the equation.

Step 2 is solved using the enthalpy of fusion, and is multiplied by the number of grams being melted:.

Combining the steps, we get the following expression.

Example Question #12 :Phase Changes

的molar heats of fusion and vaporization for water are given below:

Which of the following is not true?

Possible Answers:

Vaporization is an endothermic process

It takesto melt two moles of water

Solidification is an exothermic process

的heat of condensation is

Correct answer:

的heat of condensation is

Explanation:

Vaporization and condensation refer to the transition from liquid to gas and from gas to liquid, respectively. Fusion and freezing, in contrast, refer to the transition from solid to liquid and from liquid to solid, respectively. Vaporization (boiling) and fusion (melting) each require an input of energy, making them endothermic processes with positive changes in enthalpy. Condensation and freezing result in a decrease in energy and an output of enthalpy, making them exothermic.

的given enthalpy of fusion tells us thatare consumed for every mole of water. If two moles of water are present, then消费在融化。

Enthalpy of vaporization will be equal and opposite the enthalpy of condensation. Since condensation is exothermic, heat will be released and the change in enthalpy must be negative (not positive).

Heat of condensation:

Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

的molar heats of fusion and vaporization for water are given below:

Given the following information, which substance would be expected to have an intermolecular force strength similar to that of water?

Substance

ΔHfus

ΔHvap

Acetone

5.72 kJ/mol

29.1 kJ/mol

Ethanol

4.60 kJ/mol

43.5 kJ/mol

Hydrogen

0.12 kJ/mol

0.90 kJ/mol

Ammonia

5.65 kJ/mol

23.4 kJ/mol

Possible Answers:

Hydrogen

Acetone and ammonia

Ethanol and ammonia

Ethanol

Correct answer:

Ethanol

Explanation:

Intermolecular forces play a key role in determining the energy required for phase changes. Strong intermolecular forces result in more resistance to changes that result in greater distance between molecules (greater entropy), as the forces cause the molecules to "stick" to one another. When a liquid is vaporized, the strength of the intermolecular force is overcome; similar heats of vaporization indicate similar intermolecular forces. A similar concept governs the transition from solid to liquid. If two compounds share similar enthalpies of fusion and vaporization, then they likely have similar intermolecular forces.

In the given table, ethanol enthalpy values are most similar to those of water, meaning it likely has similar intermolecular forces.

Example Question #1 :的rmodynamics Of Phase Changes

以下diagram shows the temperature of a substance as constant heat is supplied. Suppose the substance began in a solid state.

Vaporization_graph2

如果of the substance begins at interval E and ends at interval C, the substance__________and energy is__________.

Possible Answers:

condenses . . . released

condenses . . . absorbed

vaporizes . . . released

solidifies . . . released

Correct answer:

condenses . . . released

Explanation:

Plateaus in the graph represent phase changes: period B shows the transitions between solid and liquid, and period D shows the transitions between liquid and gas. When the substance transitions through period D, it undergoes either vaporization (C to E transition) or condensation (E to C transition). If the substances starts out at interval E and ends at interval C, then it has undergone condensation.

Condensation involves transition from a high energy gas to a lower energy liquid, and has a net decrease in heat energy and temperature. This heat release is known as an exothermic process.

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