IMPORTANT TERMS TO REMEMBER IN GEN. CHEM 2-4th QUARTER

• Thermodynamics


  The branch of physical chemistry that deals with the relationships and conversions between heat and other forms of energy
• Endothermic Reaction


  A chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings, resulting in a decrease in temperature
• Exothermic Reaction


  A chemical reaction that releases heat to its surroundings, resulting in an increase in temperature
• Enthalpy


  A measure of the total heat content of a system, symbolized as II
• Heat Energy


  The energy transferred between objects due to a temperature difference, typically measured in joules (J) or calories (cal)
• Calorimetry


  The science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes
• Hess's Law


  It states that the total enthalpy change for a reaction is the same, regardless of whether the reaction occurs in one step or in a series of steps
• Chemical Kinetics


  The study of the rates of chemical reactions and the factors that affect them
• Collision Theory


  It explains how chemical reactions occur and why reaction rates differ for different reactions
• Catalyst


  A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process
• Positive catalyst


  A substance that facilitates chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy barrier
• Negative catalyst


  A substance that hinders reactions by raising the activation energy barrier
• Rate Law


  An equation that relates the rate of a chemical reaction to the concentrations of reactants
• Spontaneous Process


  A process that occurs naturally without the need for external intervention
• Nonspontaneous Process


  A process that does not occur naturally and requires external intervention to proceed
• Entropy


  A measure of the disorder or randomness of a system
• Second Law of Thermodynamics


  It states that the entropy of the universe tends to increase over time
• Chemical Equilibrium


  A state in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in no net change in the concentrations of reactants and products
• Le Chatelier's Principle


  It states that if a system at equilibrium is disturbed by a change in temperature, pressure, or concentration, the system will shift its position to counteract the change and restore equilibrium
• First Law of Thermodynamics

  • Also known as the law of conservation of energy, it states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another