Decide whether the following processes will be spontaneous, and why. The “why” can be general, not specific. (a) Ice melting at
(a)
Interpretation:
Whether the melting of ice at
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by the surrounding is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The melting of ice at
Explanation of Solution
The freezing point of water is
The melting of ice at
(b)
Interpretation:
Whether the melting of ice at
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by the surrounding is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The melting of ice at
Explanation of Solution
The freezing point of water is
The melting of ice at
(c)
Interpretation:
Whether the dissolution of
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by surroundings is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The dissolution of
Explanation of Solution
The potassium salts are soluble in water. When
The dissolution of
(d)
Interpretation:
Whether the process of cooling of an unplugged refrigerator will be spontaneous or not is to be stated. The reason for the answer is to be stated.
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by thet surrounding is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The process of cooling of an unplugged refrigerator will be a non-spontaneous process as the refrigerator would not be cooled in the absence of electricity.
Explanation of Solution
The unplugged refrigerator will not have any electricity supply, and therefore it will not be cooled on its own. The processes which occur naturally on their own are the spontaneous processes. Therefore, the process of cooling of an unplugged refrigerator will be a non-spontaneous.
The process of cooling of an unplugged refrigerator will be a non-spontaneous process as the refrigerator would not be cold in the absence of electricity.
(e)
Interpretation:
Whether the process of falling off a leaf from a tree to the ground will be spontaneous or not is to be stated. The reason for the answer is to be stated.
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by the surrounding is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The process of falling off a leaf from a tree to the ground will be a spontaneous process as it is a natural process and occurs on its own.
Explanation of Solution
The process of falling off a leaf from a tree to the ground is a natural process which occurs under the gravitational force. The processes which occur naturally on their own are the spontaneous processes. Therefore, the process of falling off a leaf from a tree to the ground will be spontaneous.
The process of falling off a leaf from a tree to the ground will be a spontaneous process as it is a natural process and occurs on its own.
(f)
Interpretation:
Whether the reaction of lithium with fluorine gas will be spontaneous or not is to be stated. The reason for the answer is to be stated.
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by surroundings is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered. But this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The reaction of lithium with fluorine gas will be a spontaneous process as the formation of the product is highly favored for this process.
Explanation of Solution
The reaction of lithium with fluorine gas is shown.
The reaction is an endothermic reaction which requires heat to give the product. It is a spontaneous process as the formation of product is highly favored due to factors other than enthalpy (entropy). Therefore, the reaction of lithium with fluorine gas will be spontaneous.
The reaction of lithium with fluorine gas will be a spontaneous process as the formation of the product is highly favored for this process.
(g)
Interpretation:
Whether the decomposition of water will be spontaneous or not is to be stated. The reason for the answer is to be stated.
Concept introduction:
Any process that occurs without the requirement of work done by the surrounding is known as the spontaneous process. Spontaneous processes occur when the energy of the system is lowered, but this definition of spontaneous processes is not true for every process. The reactions in which the energy is high also occur spontaneously.
Answer to Problem 3.1E
The decomposition of water will be a non-spontaneous process as the reaction requires a huge amount of heat.
Explanation of Solution
The reaction of decomposition of water is shown.
In the decomposition of water, the liquid phase is going to the gaseous phase; that is, from low enthalpy to high enthalpy. It is not favored unless a huge amount of heat is supplied. Thus, the process will not occur on its own. Therefore, the given reaction will be non-spontaneous.
The decomposition of water will be a non-spontaneous process as the reaction requires a huge amount of heat.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 3 Solutions
Physical Chemistry
- Is the formation of ozone (O3(g)) from oxygen (O2(g)) spontaneous at room temperature under standard state conditions?arrow_forwardWhat is meant by the standard free-energy change G for a reaction? What is meant by the standard free energy of formation Gf of a substance?arrow_forwardFor the reaction NO(g)+NO2(g)N2O3(g) , use tabulated thermodynamic data to calculate H and S. Then use those values to answer the following questions. (a) Is this reaction spontaneous at 25°C? Explain your answer. (b) If the reaction is not spontaneous at 25°C, will it become spontaneous at higher temperatures or lower temperatures? (c) To show that your prediction is accurate, choose a temperature that corresponds to your prediction in part (b) and calculate G . (Assume that both enthalpy and entropy are independent of temperature.)arrow_forward
- Indicate whether the following processes are spontaneous or nonspontaneous. (a) Liquid water freezing at a temperature below its freezing point (b) Liquid water freezing at a temperature above its freezing point (c) The combustion of gasoline (d) A ball thrown into the air (e) A raindrop falling to the ground (f) Iron rusting in a moist atmospherearrow_forwardFor each of the following processes, identify the systemand the surroundings. Identify those processes that arespontaneous. For each spontaneous process, identify theconstraint that has been removed to enable the process to occur: Ammonium nitrate dissolves in water. Hydrogen and oxygen explode in a closed bomb. A rubber band is rapidly extended by a hangingweight. The gas in a chamber is slowly compressed by aweighted piston. A glass shatters on the floor.arrow_forwardWhat happens to the entropy of the universe during a spontaneous process?arrow_forward
- What is the sign of the standard Gibbs free-energy change at low temperatures and at high temperatures for the explosive decomposition of TNT? Use your knowledge of TNT and the chemical equation, particularly the phases, to answer this question. (Thermodynamic data for TNT are not in Appendix G.) 2C7H5N3O6(s) 3N2(g) + 5H2O() + 7C(s) + 7CO(g)arrow_forwardOn the basis of your experience, predict which reactions are spontaneous: (a) PbO2(s)Pb(s)+O2(g)(b) N2(l)N2(g) at 25C (c) C6H12O6(s)C6H12O6(l) at 25C (d) Ca2+(aq)+CO32(aq)CaCO3(s)arrow_forwardThe formation of aluminum oxide from its elements is highly exothermic. If 2.70 g Al metal is burned in pure O2 to give A12O3, calculate how much thermal energy is evolved in the process (at constant pressure).arrow_forward
- Thermodynamics provides a way to interpret everyday occurrences. If you live in northern climates, one common experience is that during early winter, snow falls but then melts when it hits the ground. Both the formation and the melting happen spontaneously. How can thermodynamics explain both of these seemingly opposed events?arrow_forwardEnthalpy changes often help predict whether or not a process will be spontaneous. What type of reaction is more likely to be spontaneous: an exothermic or an endothermic one? Provide two examples that support your assertion and one counterexample.arrow_forwardDefine the following: a. spontaneous process b. entropy c. positional probability d. system e. surroundings f. universearrow_forward
- Physical ChemistryChemistryISBN:9781133958437Author:Ball, David W. (david Warren), BAER, TomasPublisher:Wadsworth Cengage Learning,Chemistry by OpenStax (2015-05-04)ChemistryISBN:9781938168390Author:Klaus Theopold, Richard H Langley, Paul Flowers, William R. Robinson, Mark BlaserPublisher:OpenStaxChemistryChemistryISBN:9781305957404Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCostePublisher:Cengage Learning
- Chemistry: An Atoms First ApproachChemistryISBN:9781305079243Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. ZumdahlPublisher:Cengage LearningPrinciples of Modern ChemistryChemistryISBN:9781305079113Author:David W. Oxtoby, H. Pat Gillis, Laurie J. ButlerPublisher:Cengage Learning