CHEM 1128Q Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Boltzmann Constant, Spontaneous Process, Thermodynamics

• School: UConn
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 1128Q
• Professor: Clyde Cady

Document Summary

Thermodynamics is the study of relationships between the energy and work associated with chemical and physical processes: it allows us to predict if a process will occur under specified conditions. The two types of changes in a system are: those that occur spontaneously, those that occur with force. A reversible process is a process that takes place at such a slow rate that it is always at equilibrium and its direction can be changed by an infinitesimally small change is some condition. Entropy is a state function, so its change only upon the initial and final states of a system: =ln. A microstate (w), is a specific configuration for the locations and energies of the atoms or molecules that comprise a system like the following: k is the boltzmann constant, 1. 38 x 10-23 j/k. S = sf si = k ln (wf/wi)