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ChemistryEdu Logo Thermodynamics | Questions based on first Law of Thermodynamics#

Questions#

For an isochoric reversible process, calculate the following if Cv = 3R/2 for the gas present in the system and 5 moles of gas is heated from 27oC to 127oC.
(a) Work done (W)
(b) Heat supplied (q)
(c) Change in internal energy (ΔU)

(a) Since this is an isochoric process, work done will be zero.

(c) Change in internal energy (ΔU) is given by:

ΔU=T1T2nCvdT
ΔU=nCv(T2T1)
ΔU=5×3R2×(400300)
ΔU=750R
ΔU=750×8.314
ΔU=6235.5J

(b) Heat supplied (q) is calculated by first law of thermodynamics:

ΔU=q+W
6235.5=q+0
q=6235.5 J

Five moles of an ideal gas at 300 K is expanded isothermally from an initial pressure of 4 atm to a final pressure of 1 atm against a constant external pressure of 1 atm. Calculate q, W, ΔU and ΔH. Calculate the corresponding value of all if this process is carried out reversibly.

(a) If the process is carried out irreversibly, let's calculate q, W, ΔU and ΔH.

  • Work done can be calculated as:
W=Pext(V2V1)
W=Pext(nRTP2nRTP1)
W=nRTPext(1P21P1)
W=5×0.0821×300×1×(1114)
W=92.3625 atm L
W=92.3625×101.3 J=9356.32 J
  • Change in internal energy, ΔU is given by:
ΔU=T1T2nCvdT
ΔU=nCv(T2T1)

Since, this is an isothermal process, so T2 = T1.

Hence, ΔU=0
  • Change in enthalpy, ΔH is given by:
ΔH=T1T2nCpdT
ΔH=nCp(T2T1)

Since, this is an isothermal process, so T2 = T1.

Hence, ΔH=0
  • Heat supplied, q is calculated from first law of thermodynamics:
ΔU=q+W
0=q+(9356.32)
q=9356.32 J

(b) If the process is carried out reversibly, let's calculate q, W, ΔU and ΔH.

  • Work done is calculated as:
W=V1V2PextdV
W=V1V2PgasdV
W=V1V2nRTVdV
W=nRT lnV2V1
W=nRT lnP1P2
W=5×8.314×300×ln41
W=17288.48 J
  • Since, the process is isothermal, so ΔU = 0 and ΔH = 0.

  • Heat supplied, q can be calculated from first law of thermodynamics:

ΔU=q+W
0=q+(17288.48)
q=17288.48 J

One mole of an ideal gas is (Cv = 20 J K-1mol-1) is allowed to expand reversibly and adiabatically from a temperature of 27oC. If the work done by the gas in the process is 3 KJ, what is the final temperature of the gas?

We know that for an adiabatic process, heat supplied (q) = 0.

By first law of thermodynamics:

ΔU=q+W
nCv(T2T1)=0+W
nCv(T2T1)=W
1×20(T2300)=3×1000
T2300=150
T2=150 K

What is the change in internal energy when a gas contracts irreversibly from 377 mL to 177 mL under a constant pressure of 1520 torr while at the same time being cooled by removing 124 J of heat? (Take 1 atm = 760 torr and 1 atm L = 100 J)

The given process is irreversible. Heat is removed from the system, so its value will be negative. q = -124 J.

Pext=1520 torr=1520720 atm=2 atm
W=Pext(V2V1)
W=2(0.1770.377)
W=0.4 atm L
W=0.4×100 J=40 J

By first law of thermodynamics:

ΔU=q+W
ΔU=124+40
ΔU=84 J

A real gas is subjected to an adiabatic process from (2 bar, 40 L, 300 K) to (4 bar, 40 L, 300 K) against a constant pressure of 4 bar. Calculate the enthalpy change for the process. (Take 1 bar L = 100 J)

Work done is given by:

W=Pext(V2V1)
W=4(3040)
W=40 bar L

Enthalpy is given by:

H=U+PV
ΔH=ΔU+Δ(PV)
ΔH=ΔU+(P2V2P1V1)
ΔH=40+(4×302×40)
ΔH=40+(12080)
ΔH=80 bar L
ΔH=80×100=8000 J

Two moles of an ideal diatomic gas (Cv = 5R/2) at 300 K and 5 atm pressure is expanded irreversibly and adiabatically to a final pressure of 2 atm against a constant pressure of 1 atm. Calculate q, W, ΔH and ΔU.

Poissons ratio, γ=CpCv
γ=Cv+RCv
γ=7R25R2=75
  • Equation of state for an adiabatic process is:
PVγ=constant
P(T/P)γ=constant
P1γTγ=constant
P11γT1γ=P21γT2γ
(5)17/5×(300)7/5=(2)17/5×(T2)7/5
(5)2/5×(300)7/5=(2)2/5×(T2)7/5
(T2)7/5=(5)2/5×(300)7/5(2)2/5
(T2)7/5=2036.075
T2=230.9 K
  • Work done can be calculated as:
W=Pext(V2V1)
W=Pext(nRT2P2nRT1P1)
W=nRPext(T2P2T1P1)
W=2×0.0821×1(230.923005)
W=28.81 atm L
W=28.81×101.3 J=2918.34 J
  • Change in internal energy for ideal gas is given by:
ΔU=nCv(T2T1)
ΔU=2×5R2(230.9300)
ΔU=2872.487 J
  • Heat supplied, q is calculated from first law of thermodynamics:
ΔU=q+W
2872.487=q2918.34
q=2872.487+2918.34=45.853 J
  • Change in enthalpy for ideal gas is given by:
ΔU=nCp(T2T1)
ΔU=2×7R2(230.9300)
ΔU=4021.4818 J

One mole of CO2 gas at 300 K is expanded under reversible adiabatic condition such that its volume becomes 27 times.
(a) What is the final temperature?
(b) Calculate work done.
Given: γ = 4/3, Cv=25.08 J mol-1K-1 for CO2

(a) Let initial volume, V1 be V and final volume, V2 be 27V.

The equation of state of an adiabatic process is:

PVγ=constant
or, TVγ1=constant
T1V1γ1=T2V2γ1
300(V)4/31=T2(27V)4/31
300(V)1/3=T2(27V)1/3
T2=300(V27V)1/3
T2=100 K

Hence, final temperature is 100 K.

(b) By using first law of thermodynamics, we can calculate work done:

ΔU=q+W

Since, this is an adiabatic process, q = 0.

W=ΔU
W=nCv(T2T1)

Since, Cv = R/(γ-1), we can write:

W=nR(T2T1)γ1
W=1×8.314(100300)(4/31)
W=4988.4 J

One mole of an ideal monoatomic gas is expanded irreversibly against an external pressure of 2 bar in two steps:
State a(8 bar, 4 L, 300 K) ----> State b(2 bar, 16 L, 300 K) ----> State c(1 bar, 32 L, 300 K)
Calculate total heat absorbed by the gas in this process.

Work done in path ab is given by:

Wab=Pext(V2V1)
Wab=2(164)=24bar L
Wab=24×100 J=2400 J

Work done in path bc is given by:

Wbc=Pext(V2V1)
Wbc=2(3216)=32bar L
Wbc=32×100 J=3200 J

Since, work done is a path function, we can calculate total work done as:

W=Wab+Wbc
W=2400+(3200)=5600 J

Using first law of thermodynamics, we can write:

ΔU=q+W
nCv(T3T1)=q5600
nCv(300300)=q5600
0=q5600
q=5600 J

Consider the given reaction at 300 K: H2(g) + Cl2(g) → 2HCl(g)
ΔH for this reaction is -185 KJ/mol. Calculate ΔU if 3 moles of H2 completely react with 3 moles of Cl2 to form HCl.

For a gaseous phase chemical reaction, we know that:

ΔH=ΔU+(Δng)RT

For the given reaction: Δng = 0.

So, ΔU=ΔH

Since, ΔH for 1 mole = -185 KJ, so ΔH for 3 moles = -185 * 3 = -555 KJ

ΔU=555 KJ

An ideal gas is expanded reversibly so that the amount of heat transferred to the gas is equal to the decrease in its internal energy. Derive the equation of this process in terms of variables T and V.

The amount of heat transferred to the gas is equal to the decrease in its internal energy means dq = -dU.

Using first law of thermodynamics:

dU=dq+dW
dU=dU+dW
2dU=dW
2nCvdT=PextdV
2nCvdT=PgasdV
2nCvdT=nRTVdV
Since, Cv=R(γ1), we can write:
2nR(γ1)dT=nRTVdV
2(γ1)1TdT=1VdV
Integrating both sides:
2(γ1)T1T21TdT=V1V21VdV
2(γ1) lnT2T1=lnV2V1
ln(T2T1)2/(γ1)=lnV2V1
(T2T1)2/(γ1)=V2V1
(T2T1)2=(V2V1)(γ1)
(T2T1)2=(V1V2)(1γ)
(T2T1)=(V1V2)(1γ)/2
T1V1(1γ)/2=T2V2(1γ)/2
Hence, TV(1γ)/2=constant