Unit 13a: Thermodynamics I: Calorimetry
Reading
BJU Chemistry: Read Ch. 13 "Chemical Thermodynamics" up through Specific Heat
Zumdahl Chemistry: Read Ch. 6, sections 6.1 & 6.2
Topics
Labs
BJU Chemistry: Read Ch. 13 "Chemical Thermodynamics" up through Specific Heat
Zumdahl Chemistry: Read Ch. 6, sections 6.1 & 6.2
Topics
- First Law of Thermodynamics
- Calorimetry
- The concept of specific heat
- Enthalpy of phase changes: Heat of fusion and heat of vaporization
Labs
- Black Powder
Lab video below: Black powder is a mixture of charcoal (C), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and sulfur (S). The charcoal does the 'burning', the nitrate supplies the oxygen, and the sulfur binds it together to make it burn quickly. As long as you don't "confine it" within a container, it will just burn - not explode.
Lecture outline
Black Powder lab (watch lab video above)
We will make and (carefully) test old fashioned black powder. The homework builds off this lab.
This is an excellent launching pad for discussing chemical reactions and thermodynamics:
- This section covers "calorimetry", the energy changes associated with heating and cooling substances.
- Ice-Water-Steam is an excellent example
Black Powder lab (watch lab video above)
We will make and (carefully) test old fashioned black powder. The homework builds off this lab.
This is an excellent launching pad for discussing chemical reactions and thermodynamics:
- Balancing chemical reactions
- Stoichiometry
- Thermodynamics
- Limiting reactants
- Moles
- Enthalpy of reaction

black_powder_lab student handout.docx |
Homework
See Canvas
See Canvas
Thermodynamics Combination Problem
The problem is now posted in Canvas in quiz-format. The accompanying video is below.