Nature of Energy: Study with Video Lessons, Practice Problems & Examples

Thermochemistry examines the relationship between matter and energy during chemical reactions and physical changes. Energy, defined as the capacity to do work or produce heat, can be categorized into potential energy, related to atomic position, and kinetic energy, associated with atomic motion. Key forms include chemical energy (a type of potential energy) and thermal energy (a type of kinetic energy). The SI unit for energy is the Joule, with conversion factors such as 1 calorie = 4.184 joules and 1 kilowatt hour = 3.6 × 10⁶ joules.

Nature of Energy

Thermochemistry is the study of matter and energy associated with chemical reactions or physical changes. Energy itself is just the capacity to do work or to produce heat. Now when we talk about energy, realize that there are different types of energy, but in this chapter, we're only going to focus on a selected few. Now when we take a look at the big picture, energy itself, we can say here that it can be broken down initially into either the position of atoms or the motion of atoms. When we're talking about the position of atoms, this is just simply our potential energy, our energy of position. And then if we're talking about the movement or motion of atoms, this is connected to kinetic energy. Now both potential energy and kinetic energy can be further broken down into other types of energy. Potential energy, we can connect it to another one which deals with the chemical bonds of atoms. This is just simply chemical energy. And then kinetic energy can be broken down further into energy associated with temperature generated by motion of atoms. So this would be called thermal energy. So just remember, energy is just the capacity to work and to produce heat. And when we're talking about energy in this chapter, we're mainly concerned with these different types of energy forms. Now, of course, there are other types of energy that exist. We'll go into those in later chapters, but for now just remember these particular four.

Nature of Energy

In our discussion of the concept of energy, it's important to remember that the SI unit for energy is Joule, and it's named after the English scientist James Joule. When it comes to joules, we're going to say that there are 3 particular types of conversion factors associated with it.

We're going to say here for the first one, we have one calorie which is lowercase c, this equals 4.184 joules. Next, we have 1 capital C calorie, this one is associated with food nutrition. This particular calorie equals 4184 joules. And then finally, kilowatt-hours. Usually, when we talk about an electrical bill, it's associated with kilowatt-hours. So we're going to say here kilowatt-hours equals 3.6×106 joules.

These are 3 conversion factors associated with our SI unit for energy. Also realize here that I didn't put purple boxes around them, so usually, you're not expected to memorize them. They're often given to you within the question or they're given to you on a formula sheet when taking an exam. But here, just again remember, these are 3 common types of conversion factors associated with joules.

Nature of Energy Example 1

Here it states, which of the following statements deals with potential energy without non-chemical energy associated with it. Remember, potential energy is just the energy of position, whereas chemical energy, which is an offshoot of potential energy, is just associated with the chemical bonds of atoms. Alright. So if we take a look here, it says a car traveling with a velocity of 51 meters per second with a mass of 1,250 kilograms. Here we're talking about velocity, we're talking about the motion of this car, so this is more associated with kinetic energy. So, this is out.

Next, your chemistry book sitting on a table counter near the trash can, weighing 12 newtons at a height of 1.2 meters. So make sure it doesn't fall into the trash can. Here, they're just talking about the position of the chemistry book. It's at a certain height, and we're talking about a force on it. Here, this is purely potential energy, so this would be our answer. But let's look at the other options.

A chunk of coal being thrown into a furnace to generate heat. Here we're talking about heat being generated from this. This is closely related to thermal energy. And then next, we have the warmth coming from a campfire. So again, we're talking about temperature, we're talking about heat. So this is a version of kinetic energy in the form of thermal energy.

So, out of all the choices, the only one that is purely potential energy without talking about chemical energy would have to be option B.

An energy efficient refrigerator uses 780 kWh of electrical energy per year. How many kilocalories of electricity does it use in three years?

• A. 2.0 x 10⁶ kcal
• B. 8.3 x 10⁵ kcal
• C. 2 x 10⁶ kcal
• D. 8.3 x 10⁶ kcal

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What is thermochemistry and why is it important?

Thermochemistry is the study of the relationship between matter and energy during chemical reactions and physical changes. It is important because it helps us understand how energy is transferred and transformed in chemical processes, which is crucial for various applications such as energy production, material synthesis, and environmental science. By studying thermochemistry, we can predict the energy changes that occur in reactions, optimize industrial processes, and develop new technologies for energy efficiency.

What are the different types of energy discussed in thermochemistry?

In thermochemistry, energy is categorized into two main types: potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is related to the position of atoms and includes chemical energy, which is stored in chemical bonds. Kinetic energy is associated with the motion of atoms and includes thermal energy, which is generated by the movement of atoms. These forms of energy are crucial for understanding how energy is stored and transferred in chemical reactions and physical changes.

What is the SI unit for energy and what are some common conversion factors?

The SI unit for energy is the Joule (J), named after the English scientist James Joule. Common conversion factors include: 1 calorie (lowercase 'c') = 4.184 joules, 1 Calorie (uppercase 'C', used in food nutrition) = 4184 joules, and 1 kilowatt hour (kWh) = 3.6 × 10⁶ joules. These conversion factors are often provided in questions or formula sheets during exams, so memorization is not always necessary.

How is potential energy different from kinetic energy in the context of thermochemistry?

In thermochemistry, potential energy is the energy related to the position of atoms, such as the energy stored in chemical bonds (chemical energy). Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy associated with the motion of atoms, such as the energy generated by their movement (thermal energy). Understanding the difference between these two types of energy is essential for analyzing how energy is stored and transferred during chemical reactions and physical changes.

Why is it important to understand energy conversion factors in thermochemistry?

Understanding energy conversion factors in thermochemistry is important because it allows us to accurately measure and compare energy changes in different units. For example, knowing that 1 calorie = 4.184 joules helps us convert energy values from one unit to another, which is essential for calculations in experiments, industrial processes, and everyday applications like understanding nutritional information or electricity usage. Accurate energy conversions ensure that we can effectively analyze and optimize energy-related processes.