PCC-23303 Introductory Thermodynamics B

Course

Credits 3.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lecture12
Tutorial12
Practical12
Course coordinator(s)dr. JA Dijksman
dr. ir. PA Barneveld
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. PA Barneveld
dr. CW Hoogendam
dr. LH Beun
dr. JA Dijksman
Examiner(s)dr. ir. PA Barneveld

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Assumed knowledge on:

PCC-12303 General Chemistry 1 and (PCC-12403 General Chemistry 2 or PCC-13803 General Chemistry 2 MLS)

Continuation courses:

PCC-22306 Driving Forces in Chemistry, Physics and Biology; PCC-20806 Soft Matter

Contents:

Thermodynamics is the science that uses the First Law (energy is conserved) and the Second Law (entropy is produced) to describe how systems change when they interact with each other or with their surroundings. Thermodynamics was originally meant to increase the efficiency of steam engines, and has nowadays a prominent place in many scientific disciplines including cosmology, physics (phase transitions), chemistry (chemical reactions) and engineering (efficiency of energy conversion).
This course introduces thermodynamic concepts, including energy, enthalpy, entropy, chemical potential, Gibbs and Helmholtz energy. On the basis of the First and Second Law of thermodynamics, the equilibrium concept will be introduced and used to describe reversible and irreversible processes. The Gibbs energy has a central role in this. Given the molar Gibbs energies of the reactants and products involved in a process, it can be deduced in what direction a process tends to go, what will be the maximum yield of a particular product and how the direction or yield for a process can be influenced by changing temperature, pressure and composition of a system. In addition to Introductory Thermodynamics A this course also introduces the mathematics of functions of several variables (total derivative, partial derivatives, etc). In addition to Introductory Thermodynamics A this course also introduces the mathematics of functions of several variables (total derivative, partial derivatives, etc), and features additional practice using graphical representations.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- interpret processes and systems in terms of thermodynamic concepts;
- perform calculations of thermodynamic properties (e.g. heat, work, energy, entropy) for ideal gases;
- calculate the change of the molar Gibbs energy of a pure substance and that of a component in a mixture in relation to temperature, pressure and composition of the mixture;
- calculate the molar Gibbs energy of reaction and apply this to phase transitions and chemical reactions;
- calculate the equilibrium constant of a chemical reaction from standard molar Gibbs energy values;
- predict equilibrium shifts in relation to changes of temperature, pressure and composition;
- understand and work with functions of several variables (regarding total derivatives and partial derivatives).

Activities:

- participate in lectures;
- participate in tutorials;
- participate in practicals.

Examination:

Written examination in English with open questions and/or multiple-choice questions (statements, derivations and calculations).

Literature:

Reader Introductory Thermodynamics (available in the WUR-shop).

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BBTBiotechnologyBSc6AF
BMLMolecular Life SciencesBSc5MO