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🔥AP Chemistry Unit 6 Vocabulary

76 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 6 – Thermochemistry

Study Unit 6
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🔥Unit 6 – Thermochemistry
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🔥Unit 6 – Thermochemistry

6.1 Endothermic and Exothermic Processes

TermDefinition
chemical transformationA process in which substances are converted into different substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
dissolution processThe process by which a solute dissolves in a solvent to form a solution, which can involve energy changes.
endothermic reactionA chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from the surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change.
exothermic reactionA chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to the surroundings, resulting in a negative enthalpy change.
heat transferThe process by which thermal energy is transferred between particles in thermal contact through collisions.
intermolecular interactionsForces between molecules, such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole forces, and London dispersion forces, that affect the physical and chemical properties of substances.
interparticle interactionsForces between particles in a system that affect the energy changes during physical and chemical processes.
phase transitionThe process by which a substance changes from one state of matter to another (solid, liquid, or gas).
physical transformationA process in which the physical state or form of a substance changes without altering its chemical composition.
surroundingsEverything outside the system with which the system can exchange energy and matter.
systemThe part of the universe being studied, which can exchange energy and matter with its surroundings.
temperature changesVariations in the thermal energy of a substance that indicate energy changes in a system.

6.2 Energy Diagrams of Reactions

TermDefinition
chemical transformationA process in which substances are converted into different substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
endothermic reactionA chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from the surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change.
energy diagramA visual representation showing the energy changes that occur during a chemical or physical process, including initial and final energy states.
exothermic reactionA chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to the surroundings, resulting in a negative enthalpy change.
physical transformationA process in which the physical state or form of a substance changes without altering its chemical composition.

6.3 Kinetic Energy, Heat Transfer, and Thermal Equilibrium

TermDefinition
heat transferThe process by which thermal energy is transferred between particles in thermal contact through collisions.
kinetic energyThe energy possessed by particles due to their motion; greater in warmer bodies and lower in cooler bodies.
molecular collisionsInteractions between particles that can result in the transfer of energy between them.
temperatureA factor that influences reaction rate by affecting the kinetic energy and collision frequency of reactant molecules.
thermal energyThe total kinetic energy of particles in a substance due to their random motion.
thermal equilibriumThe state reached when two bodies in thermal contact have the same average kinetic energy and temperature, with no net transfer of thermal energy.

6.4 Heat Capacity and Calorimetry

TermDefinition
calorimetryAn experimental technique used to measure the amount of heat transferred between systems.
dissolutionThe process by which a solute dissolves in a solvent to form a solution, involving the breaking of bonds or interactions in the solute and formation of new interactions with the solvent.
endothermic reactionA chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from the surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change.
exothermic reactionA chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to the surroundings, resulting in a negative enthalpy change.
first law of thermodynamicsThe principle that energy is conserved in chemical and physical processes; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.
heatEnergy transferred between two systems due to a difference in temperature.
heat transfer equationThe mathematical relationship q = mcΔT used to calculate heat absorbed or released, where m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature.
molar heat capacityThe amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of one mole of a substance by one degree Celsius.
phase transitionThe process by which a substance changes from one state of matter to another (solid, liquid, or gas).
specific heat capacityThe amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.
thermal energyThe total kinetic energy of particles in a substance due to their random motion.

6.5 Phase Changes and Energy

TermDefinition
condensationThe process by which a gas converts to a liquid.
freezingThe phase transition process in which a liquid changes to a solid, releasing energy.
heat absorbedThe amount of thermal energy taken in by a system, typically during endothermic processes like melting or boiling.
heat releasedThe amount of thermal energy given off by a system, typically during exothermic processes like freezing or condensation.
meltingThe phase transition process in which a solid changes to a liquid, requiring energy absorption.
molar enthalpyThe amount of heat energy absorbed or released per mole of substance during a process, typically measured in kJ/mol.
molar enthalpy of condensationThe amount of heat energy released when one mole of gas condenses to a liquid, equal to the negative of the molar enthalpy of vaporization.
molar enthalpy of fusionThe amount of heat energy required to melt one mole of a solid substance at its melting point, or released when one mole of liquid freezes.
molar enthalpy of vaporizationThe amount of heat energy required to vaporize one mole of a liquid substance at its boiling point, or released when one mole of gas condenses.
phase transitionThe process by which a substance changes from one state of matter to another (solid, liquid, or gas).
vaporizationThe phase transition process in which a liquid changes to a gas, requiring energy absorption.

6.6 Introduction to Enthalpy of Reaction

TermDefinition
bond breaking and formingThe process of breaking existing chemical bonds in reactants and forming new chemical bonds in products, which results in energy changes during a reaction.
chemical potential energyThe energy stored in the bonds of a substance that can be released or absorbed during a chemical reaction.
endothermic reactionA chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from the surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change.
enthalpy changeThe difference in enthalpy between products and reactants in a chemical or physical process, representing the heat absorbed or released.
exothermic reactionA chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to the surroundings, resulting in a negative enthalpy change.
heat (q)The thermal energy transferred between a system and its surroundings, measured in joules or kilojoules.
kinetic energy of particlesThe energy of motion of particles in a substance, which changes as chemical potential energy is released or absorbed, manifesting as a temperature change.
molar enthalpy of reactionThe enthalpy change per mole of a reactant or product in a chemical reaction, indicating the heat absorbed or released per mole at constant pressure.
thermal equilibriumThe state reached when two bodies in thermal contact have the same average kinetic energy and temperature, with no net transfer of thermal energy.

6.7 Bond Enthalpy and Bond Dissociation Energy

TermDefinition
bond energyThe average energy required to break a chemical bond between two atoms.
bonds brokenThe breaking of chemical bonds in reactant molecules, which requires energy input to the system.
bonds formedThe formation of new chemical bonds in product molecules, which releases energy from the system.
endothermic reactionA chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from the surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change.
enthalpy changeThe difference in enthalpy between products and reactants in a chemical or physical process, representing the heat absorbed or released.
exothermic reactionA chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to the surroundings, resulting in a negative enthalpy change.
potential energyThe stored energy in chemical bonds and molecular structures that can be released or absorbed during a reaction.

6.8 Enthalpies of Formation

TermDefinition
chemical processA transformation in which substances are converted into different substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
enthalpy changeThe difference in enthalpy between products and reactants in a chemical or physical process, representing the heat absorbed or released.
physical processA change in the state or properties of matter that does not alter the identity of the substances involved.
productSubstances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
reactantSubstances that are consumed in a chemical reaction to form products.
standard enthalpies of formationThe enthalpy change when one mole of a compound is formed from its elements in their standard states.

6.9 Hess’s Law

TermDefinition
chemical processA transformation in which substances are converted into different substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
energy changeThe difference in energy between the initial and final states of a system during a process or reaction step.
enthalpyThe total heat content of a system; at constant pressure, the enthalpy change equals the thermal energy transferred to or from the surroundings during a chemical or physical process.
enthalpy changeThe difference in enthalpy between products and reactants in a chemical or physical process, representing the heat absorbed or released.
first law of thermodynamicsThe principle that energy is conserved in chemical and physical processes; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.
Hess's lawThe principle that the enthalpy change of an overall reaction equals the sum of the enthalpy changes of the individual steps in the reaction sequence.
physical processA change in the state or properties of matter that does not alter the identity of the substances involved.
potential energyThe stored energy in chemical bonds and molecular structures that can be released or absorbed during a reaction.
thermal energy transferThe movement of heat energy to or from the surroundings during a chemical or physical process.