Lab Notes: The Science Behind the Story
A concise summary of the thermodynamic concepts presented in our fable
Thermodynamics Summary
Story-to-Science Connections
- •Enthalpy character: Represents ΔH (heat energy transfer)
- •Entropy character: Represents ΔS (disorder/randomness)
- •Gibbs the Guide: Represents Gibbs free energy (ΔG)
- •Sunny's orange flash: Exothermic reaction (negative ΔH)
- •Shady's blue aura: Endothermic reaction (positive ΔH)
- •Crystal garden dance: Increasing entropy (positive ΔS)
- •Three valleys: Temperature's effect on the ΔG equation
- •Perfect picnic spot: Spontaneous process (negative ΔG)
Gibbs Free Energy Calculator
-20 kJ/mol
0.1 kJ/(mol·K)
298 K
ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
0 kJ/mol
Non-Spontaneous Reaction
AP Chemistry Alignment
This story aligns with the following AP Chemistry objectives:
- •Unit 6: Thermodynamics: Energy, enthalpy, and calorimetry
- •Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics: Gibbs free energy and spontaneity
- •Science Practice 1: Models and representations
- •Science Practice 2: Question and method
- •Science Practice 4: Model analysis
- •Science Practice 6: Argumentation
References
- College Board. (2019). AP Chemistry Course and Exam Description.
- Zumdahl, S. S., & Zumdahl, S. A. (2019). Chemistry (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Chang, R., & Goldsby, K. A. (2018). Chemistry (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.