a. Does the accompanying energy diagram represent an increase or decrease in the internal energy of the system?

Verified step by step guidance

1. <Identify the initial and final energy levels on the energy diagram.>
2. <Determine whether the final energy level is higher or lower than the initial energy level.>
3. <If the final energy level is higher than the initial energy level, the internal energy of the system has increased.>
4. <If the final energy level is lower than the initial energy level, the internal energy of the system has decreased.>
5. <Conclude whether there is an increase or decrease in the internal energy based on the comparison of initial and final energy levels.>

Key Concepts

Internal Energy

Internal energy is the total energy contained within a system, encompassing both kinetic and potential energy of the particles. It is a state function, meaning it depends only on the current state of the system, not on how it reached that state. Changes in internal energy can occur due to heat transfer or work done on or by the system.

Energy Diagrams

Energy diagrams visually represent the energy changes that occur during a chemical reaction or physical process. They typically show the energy of the system on the vertical axis and the progress of the reaction on the horizontal axis. An increase in internal energy is indicated by a rise in the diagram, while a decrease is shown by a drop.

First Law of Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This principle implies that any change in the internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system. Understanding this law is crucial for interpreting energy diagrams and determining whether internal energy increases or decreases.