Energy Surfaces and Spontaneous Reactions

Question 1: The combustion of a fuel, such as octane, is an exothermic reaction. Which statement
is true for an exothermic reaction?
✓ It releases heat because the reactants have a higher energy than the products.
– It consumes heat because the reactants have a higher energy than the products.
– It releases heat because the reactants have a lower energy than the products.
– It consumes heat because the reactants have a lower energy than the products.

Question 2: If the combustion of a fuel is exothermic, what can you then say about the formation of
a fuel?
✓ The reaction for formation of the fuel is the opposite, so it is endothermic
– The reaction for formation of the fuel is not related to the combustion.
– You cannot tell without performing an experiment.
– The reaction for formation of the fuel is the same, so it is also exothermic

Question 3: Do you know what entropy is?

✓ Entropy is a measure of the disorder of a system
– Entropy determines whether a reaction is favorable or not
– Entropy is a measure of the heat of a system
– Entropy is a measure of the total energy of a system

Question 4: Which of these reactions leads to an increase in the entropy of the system?
✓ Ice melting
– Vapor condensing
– Iron rusting
– Photosynthesis

Question 5: Since the unit of ∆Henthalpy is Jjoules, the unit of temperature is Kkelvin and the unit of
∆S is J/Kentropy is joules per kelvin, what is then the unit of ∆GGibbs free energy? Remember that
all the equations are available in the media tab.
✓ The unit for ∆G is Joules.
– The unit for ∆G is Joules/degrees Kelvin2.
– The unit for ∆G is Joules/degrees Kelvin.
– The unit for ∆G is degrees Kelvin.

Question 6: The reaction at the holo-table is spontaneous. It has a negative ∆Hchange in enthalpy
and a positive ∆Schange in entropy. What will be the sign of ∆Gthe change in Gibbs free energy for
a spontaneous reaction?
✓ We subtract a positive value from a negative value, so ∆G will be negative
– The two will even out and ∆G will be very close to zero
– The sign of ∆G will depend on the temperature
– We subtract a negative value from a positive value, so ∆G will be positive

Question 7: What happens to the equation ∆G = ∆H - T∆S when the temperature is 0 K?

✓ When T=0 then ∆G = ∆H
– When T=0 then ∆G = ∆S
– When T=0 then ∆G = ∆H + ∆S
– When T=0 then ∆G = ∆H -minus ∆S

Question 8: Let us start with a familiar example: The melting of ice. Where on the right screen do
you think this process belongs?
✓ Endothermic and increases entropy (top right corner)

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 – Exothermic and decreases entropy (bottom left corner)
– Exothermic and increases entropy (top left corner)
– Endothermic and decreases entropy (bottom right corner)

Question 9: Observe this graph by clicking on the VIEW IMAGE button. At what temperature does
the melting of ice start to be spontaneous?
✓ At 273 K (0 °C)kelvin or zero degrees Celcius
– At 1102 K (866 °C)kelvin or eight hundred sixty six degrees Celcius
– At 912 K (639 °C)kelvin or six hundred thirty nine degrees Celcius
– At 582 K (309 °C)kelvin or three hundred nine degrees Celcius

Question 10: Let's try with another one: Photosynthesis.

Where on the right screen do you think this process belongs?

✓ Endothermic and decreases entropy (bottom right corner)
– Exothermic and decreases entropy (bottom left corner)
– Exothermic and increases entropy (top left corner)
– Endothermic and increases entropy (top right corner)

Question 11: This one should be easy for you: The burning of a fuel.

Where on the right screen do you think this process belongs?

✓ Exothermic and increases entropy (top left corner)
– Exothermic and decreases entropy (bottom left corner)
– Endothermic and decreases entropy (bottom right corner)
– Endothermic and increases entropy (top right corner)

Question 12: Let's look at one final case: The rusting of iron.

What do you think, where does this belong?

✓ Exothermic and decreases entropy (bottom left corner)
– Exothermic and increases entropy (top left corner)
– Endothermic and decreases entropy (bottom right corner)
– Endothermic and increases entropy (top right corner)

Question 13: Does this mean that cars don't rust in the summer? Look at the graph. At what
temperature does the rusting of iron stop being spontaneous?
✓ At 1499 K (1226 °C)kelvin or 14 hundred 99 degrees Celcius
– At 273 K (0 °C)kelvin or zero degrees Celcius
– At 675 K (402 °C)kelvin or four hundred and two degrees Celcius
– At 1803 K (1530 °C)kelvin or 15 hundred 30 degrees Celcius

Question 14: Can you tell which one of the four examples corresponds to the making of a
hydrocarbon fuel from CO2 and water?
✓ ∆H > 0 and ∆S < 0 - like photosynthesis
– ∆H < 0 and ∆S > 0 - like the burning of fuel
– ∆H < 0 and ∆S < 0 - like the rusting of iron
– ∆H > 0 and ∆S > 0 - like the melting of ice

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