NAME: __________________________________________ GRADE & SECTION:

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TEACHER: _______________________________________ STRAND: _______________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION- NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PASAY CITY

MODULE IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2

Third Quarter/ Week 3/ Day 19

WHEN YOU FINISH THIS MODULE, YOU MUST LEARN HOW TO:
● Explain the first law of thermodynamics.

WHAT’S NEW?
The term thermodynamics from the reek word “therme” which means heat and “dyname” which means
power. Thermodynamics deals with the study of energy and its transformation. This field of study will help in
understanding the relationship between heat and work in all living and non-living things.
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. In short,
energy is conserved. This is also known as the first law of thermodynamics. The law further states that energy
may be transformed from one form to another and that any energy lost by the system must be gained by
surroundings, and vice versa. Energy can also be transferred back and forth between the system and the
surroundings in the form of heat and work.
The energy contained within the system, referred to as internal energy, E, is simply the sum of the
kinetic and potential energy of all the components of the system. The change in internal energy, ∆𝐸, of the
system is a state function, thus its vale is independent of the manner in which the state of the system s
attained. The value is the same regardless of the pathway and depends only on the initial and final states of
the system. It does not depends on how and where the change is carried out. Thus, if a system is transformed
from state A, to a different state B, the value of ∆𝐸 I expressed as:
∆𝐸 = EB – EA
If the transformation is carried out by exchange of heat and performance of work between a system and its
surroundings, the total change in energy of the system, ∆𝐸, is equal to the sum of the heat absorbed or
evolved by the system, q, and the work performed by or done on the system, w, s expressed by the given
equation:
∆𝐸 = q + w
Unlike ∆𝐸, q and w are not state functions and therefore, path dependent. Hence the amount of heat an work
formed during a change in state of a system depend on the way the change is carried out. However, even
though the individual values of q and w change, their sum is a state function.
In applying the equation that expresses the first aw of thermodynamics, the signs of q and w must
always be taken into account.
● q and w are positive (+) when heat or work enters the system from the surroundings
● q and w ae negative (-) when heat or work transfers from the system to the surroundings
● if both q and w are (+), sign of ∆𝐸, is also (+); internal energy increases
● if both q and w re (-), sign of ∆𝐸, is also (-); internal energy decreases
● if q is (+) and w is (-), or, if q is (-) and w is (+), sin of ∆𝐸, depends o the magnitude of q and w

Heat added to the system 🡪

🡺 heat evolved by the system

(+ q) (- q)
SYSTEM
Work done on the system 🡪
🡺 work done by the system

(+ w) (- w)
Heat (q) and work (w) are positive if they enter the system and negative, when they leave the system.

Sample Problem:
Calculate ∆𝐸 if 100 kJ of eat energy is absorbed by the system and 30 kJ of work is doe on the
surroundings.

Given:
Q = +100 kJ (absorbed by e system, sign is +)
W = -30 kJ (done by the system sign is - )

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 Required: ∆𝐸 value

Equation: ∆𝐸 = q + w

Solution: ∆𝐸 = q + w
= 100 J + (-30 kJ)

Answer: ∆𝐸 = 70 kJ

References: Organo, V., et. al., SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL: General Chemistry 2., Oxford University Press.
Ayson, M., et. al., General Chemistry 2., Vibal publishing house.

TODAY’S TASK
ACTIVITY 1:
Calculate the change in energy for the following processes. Identify if the process is endothermic or
exothermic.
1. A gas releases 35 J of heat as 84 J of work was done to compress it.

2. A gas absorbs 448 J of heat as it does 72 J of work by expanding.

EXERCISE 1:
Answer the given problems below. Use ESA.
1. What is the work done by a system when it absorbs 47 J of heat and gain 12 J of energy?
E:

S:

A:

2. How much heat is released by a system when 45 J of work is done on it to decrease it energy to 27
J?
E:

S:

A:

GENERALIZATION
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can change from one
form to another. It is also known as the law of conservation of energy. We can change kinetic energy into
potential energy and the other way around, but we cannot create energy from nothing. Although batteries seem
to create energy from nowhere, inside the battery a chemical reaction converts the potential energy in bonds
into
moving electrons.

WHAT CAN I DO:

1. Suppose that when you run through a 50-m distance you perform 2kJ of work. If before running, you
eat food from which you obtain 800-J, would this activity cause you to slim down or to increase your
weight? Why? Explain.

2. What would have to happen to a gas if it was absorbing heat from the surroundings but also
experiencing a negative temperature change? Use the 1st Law of Thermodynamics to help support your
answer.

EVALUATION
Answer the given problems below. Use GRESA.

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 1. A rope is pulled, increasing its tension. The work done pulling the rope is 23 J. While being pulled, the
rope is also heated by the hand of the person pulling on it, by a net 1.5 J. What is the change in the
rope’s internal energy?

2. A spring is compressed, increasing its tension. The work done compressing the spring is 1.32 J. While
being compressed, the spring heats the hand of the person pushing on it by a net of 0.15 J. What is the
change in the spring’s internal energy?

3. A heat engine undergoes a process in which its internal energy decreases by 400.0 J while it is doing
250 J of work. What is the net heat is taken in (or given out) by the engine during this process?

4. A cylinder contains a gas that receives net heating of 15 J. While the gas is heated, the lid of the
cylinder is moved upward through a distance of 15 cm, as shown in the diagram. The mass of the lid
is 1.45 kg. How much does the internal energy of the gas increase during the heating?

5. Some liquid in a sealed container receives a net heating, Δ𝑄in−Δ𝑄out,

of 125 J from its surroundings, causing it to expand slightly, as shown in
the diagram. The liquid expands more than the container does, and the
greater expansion of the liquid exerts a pressure on the container,
which deforms it. The elastic potential energy increase due to the
container’s deformation is 15 J. What is the change in the internal energy
of the liquid?

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 Prepared by:
MARIA THERESA L. ESTILONG
Pasay City National Science High School