Ch.5 - Thermochemistry

Problem 29c

Chapter 5, Problem 29c

(c) Is the volume of a system a state function? Why or why not?

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Understand the concept of a state function: A state function is a property of a system that depends only on the current state of the system, not on the path taken to reach that state.

Consider the definition of volume: Volume is the amount of space that a substance or object occupies, or that is enclosed within a container.

Analyze how volume can change: Volume can change based on the path taken, such as compressing or expanding a gas in a container through different processes (isothermal, adiabatic, etc.).

Reflect on the dependency of volume on path: Since the change in volume can depend on the specific process or path taken to achieve that volume, it is not solely dependent on the initial and final states.

Conclude whether volume is a state function: Based on the analysis, conclude that volume is not a state function because it can depend on the path taken during a process, not just the initial and final states of the system.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

State Functions

State functions are properties of a system that depend only on its current state, not on the path taken to reach that state. Examples include temperature, pressure, and volume. These properties are crucial in thermodynamics as they help describe the system's equilibrium state and are independent of the process history.

Path Functions

Path functions are properties that depend on the specific path taken to change the state of a system. Examples include work and heat, which vary based on the process used to transfer energy. Understanding the distinction between state and path functions is essential for analyzing thermodynamic processes.

Volume in Thermodynamics

In thermodynamics, volume is considered a state function because it is determined solely by the current state of the system, such as its pressure and temperature. Changes in volume can occur through various processes, but the volume at any given state is fixed and does not depend on how the system arrived there.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

A gas is confined to a cylinder fitted with a piston and an electrical heater, as shown here:

Suppose that current is supplied to the heater so that 100 J of energy is added. Consider two different situations. In case (1) the piston is allowed to move as the energy is added. In case (2) the piston is fixed so that it cannot move. (a) In which case does the gas have the higher temperature after addition of the electrical energy?

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Textbook Question

A gas is confined to a cylinder fitted with a piston and an electrical heater, as shown here:

Suppose that current is supplied to the heater so that 100 J of energy is added. Consider two different situations. In case (1) the piston is allowed to move as the energy is added. In case (2) the piston is fixed so that it cannot move. (b) Identify the sign (positive, negative, or zero) of q and w in each case?

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Textbook Question

Consider a system consisting of two oppositely charged spheres hanging by strings and separated by a distance r1, as shown in the accompanying illustration. Suppose they are separated to a larger distance r2, by moving them apart. (a) What change, if any, has occurred in the potential energy of the system?

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Textbook Question

During a deep breath, our lungs expand about 2.0 L against an external pressure of 101.3 kPa. How much work is involved in this process (in J)?

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Textbook Question

How much work (in J) is involved in a chemical reaction if the volume decreases from 33.6 L to 11.2 L against a constant pressure of 90.5 kPa?

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