NS 102 Science of Nature II

Fall 2022

Midterm Exam
Nov 18, 2022 (18:00 – 20:00)

Surname:

Name:

Student No:

This exam consists of 8 pages including 8 problems & a bonus question (105 points in total).

The “List of formulas and constants” is attached at the end of the exam. Carefully separate the
formula sheet before you start the exam.

Show all your work and in-between steps clearly to receive full credits.

READ before you start the exam:

● carefully separate the formula sheet from the exam.
● count the number of pages (8 pages, 8 problems) and write your full name on top of
each page.
● Scientific calculators are allowed, but use of cell phones, computers, or any other
electronic devices are not allowed.
● Exam papers will be scanned and graded online, so please use a dark pencil and write
clearly in the exam. It is your responsibility to write clearly.
 Do not write Do not write
here Full Name:______________________ Student No:________________ here

Q1 [11 pts] According to the Environmental Protection Agency of the USA, for a model year 2012-2016 vehicle,
one liter of gasoline produces about 2 kg of CO2 on average. Distance traveled per liter of fuel is 7.7km/L on
average.
Assume you have lived in Beşiktaş all your life. You attended the local elementary school 5 km away, Kadıköy
High school 15 km away and Sabancı University 55 km away.

(a) Calculate your carbon footprint for a single ride to school for elementary school, high school and
university separately. Report your answer in kg CO 2 per ride. (6 pts)

Elementary school:

High school:

University:

(b) Throughout your school years, you measured and recorded the temperature every day. Your calculations
reveal that the average temperature was 17°C when you were in elementary school, 17.5°C in high
school and 18°C in university.
Plot average temperature as a function of carbon footprint using the three data points you have and
draw a trendline. Make sure to indicate units in ( ). (3 pts)

(c) Specify the type of correlation and state whether there is a direct causation between the two variables.
(2 pts)

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Q2 [14 pts] The Little Prince (who was in the Sahara desert) is back on his home planet
B612. He is feeling as hot as he did back in the Sahara desert. Average temperature in
B612 is 40°C. He wonders how it can be so hot here even though it is much farther
from the Sun than the Earth, double the distance to be exact. He wonders whether
this might be because there is absolutely no ice, clouds or any other reflecting surface
on B612.

[Note: In the actual story, B612 is an asteroid, but here let’s assume that it is a small
spherical planet]

(a) Fill in the blanks based on the information given above. (2 pts)

The distance (d) between the Sun and B612 is ______ AU. The albedo of B612 is ______.

(b) Find solar flux (S) at the position of planet B612 in SI units. Hint: Solar flux at the position of the Earth is
1370 W/m2. (3 pts)

(c) Calculate the effective radiative temperature of planet B612. Report your answer in ℃. (4 pts)

(d) Do you think there are greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere of planet B612? If so, calculate the extent
of the greenhouse effect. (3 pts)

(e) Can the Little Prince see the radiation from the Sun on his planet? Explain. (2 pts)

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Q3 [16 pts] Infrared properties of 5 unknown gas samples (A, B, C, D, E) are measured using infrared
spectroscopy. It is observed that samples A,C transmit the radiation 100% at all wavelengths. On the other hand
B,D,E absorb the radiation at some IR wavelengths.
The samples are not labeled but we know that each sample contains one of these gases:

(a) Which of the gas molecules given above can be A or C? Explain why. (3 pts)

(b) Why do B, D and E absorb IR? Explain by referring to their molecular structures. (2 pts)

(c) Describe the mechanism of greenhouse effect. (3 pts)

(d) Which of the gas molecules given above would be a greenhouse gas? List all that apply and state your
reasoning. (4 pts)

(e) You measure that these gases behave like an ideal gas.
(i) List two most basic assumptions of ideal gas law that differentiate an ideal gas from a real gas.
(2 pts)

(ii) If there were repulsive interactions between the gas molecules, how would the pressure of real gas
be different than the ideal gas? Explain why. (2 pts)

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Q4 [17 pts] A reversible, isothermal process expands 1 mole of an ideal gas

from state A to state B as seen on the PV diagram. While the volume
doubles, the amount of heat (Q) gained by the system is +1.7 kJ/mol. Make
sure to show your work or explain when answering the following questions.

(a) What is the change in internal energy of the gas for this process? (2
pts)

(b) What is the work done? Write also whether the energy is gained or lost in the gas system by work.
(3 pts)

(c) Using your answer in (b), calculate the temperature at which the expansion occurs in Celsius. (4 pts)

(d) The gas returns from state B to A in two irreversible steps. First step is isovolumetric (constant volume),
second one is isobaric (constant pressure). Draw the return path on the above figure. Which process
A → B or B → A requires more work? (3 pts)

(e) Calculate the entropy change (ΔS) for the irreversible path. (5 pts)

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Q5. [15 pts] In an insulated (no heat transfer with surrounding) container 2 mol of water at 273 K and 1 mol of
water at 373 K are mixed until it reaches thermal equilibrium. (Heat capacity per one mole water is given as
Cwater = 75.3 J K–1 mol–1)
(a) Find the final temperature of the water in the container, considering the heat exchange. (4 pts)

(b) Find the entropy change of the system. (5 pts)

(c) What are the entropy changes of the surroundings and the universe due to this process? (4 pts)

(d) Is this a spontaneous or nonspontaneous process? Clearly state how you decided. (2 pts)

Q6. [11 pts] Benzene (C6H6) is a chemical that is found in natural and unnatural sources including in cigarette
smoke and car exhaust. Its combustion reaction is given below:
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C6H6 (s) + O2 (g) → 6 CO2 (g) + 3 H2O (s)
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ΔHof (kJ mol-1) So (J K-1 mol-1)

C6H6 (s) 49.00 173.3
O2 (g) 0 205.138
CO2 (g) -393.51 213.74
H2O (s) -285.83 69.91
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(a) Calculate the enthalpy change of the reaction at 25oC. Is this reaction endothermic or
exothermic (Clearly state how you decided to get a point)? (4 pts)

(b) Calculate the entropy change of the reaction at 25oC. (3 pts)

(c) Calculate the change in Gibbs free energy of the combustion reaction of benzene at 25oC. Is this a
spontaneous reaction at 25oC (Clearly state how you decided to get a point)? (4 pts)

Q7. [8 pts] Renewable energy resources are natural resources that can be replenished in a short period of time.
(a) Write three examples of renewable energy: (3 pts)

Nonrenewable energy resources are natural resources that cannot be remade or re-grown at a scale
comparable to its consumption.
(b) Write three examples of nonrenewable energy: (3 pts)

(c) Pick one of the energy sources from above. List one advantage and one disadvantage of using this
particular energy source. Make sure to write which energy source you picked. (2 pts)

Your pick: ________________

Advantage: Disadvantage:

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Q8. [8 pts] The Gibbs free energy vs Temperature graph of a

material at a constant pressure is given below. Answer the
following questions using the graph.
Recall: For the general case: ΔG = VΔP - SΔT

(a) Find the most stable phase (A,B or C) at each temperature

T1, T2, T3 and T4. State the reasoning for your answer. (4 pts)
T1: T3:

T2: T4:

Your reasoning:

(b) Compare the entropies of phases A, B, C (SA, SB, SC) at T3. (1 pt)

(c) Which of these phases would be gas, liquid and solid? (3 pts)

Gas = Liquid = Solid =

BONUS question [5 pts]

You saw in this Module, how human activities are causing global warming. Considering that, what action(s) do
you think Turkish citizens and the Turkish government should take realistically to stop (or at least slow down)
climate change? Explain why you think taking this action would work based on some scientific concepts we
discussed in class. [in max 5 sentences]

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 NS102 Climate Module, Fall 2022
List of formulas, constants and other data

Constants Unit conversions

Gas constant: R = 0.082 L atm mol-1 K-1 = 8.314 J mol-1 K-1 = 8.314 Pa m3 mol-1 K-1
1 J = 0.01 L·atm = 1 Pa·m3
Avogadro’s number: NA = 6.02 x 1023
1 atm = 101325 Pa
Stefan-Boltzmann Constant: σ = 5.67 x 10-8 W m-2 K-4
1 L = 0.001 m3
Average distance between Earth and Sun: dE = 1 AU = 1.5 x 108 km
T (K) = 273 + T (oC)
Albedo of Earth: AE = 0.3

𝑃𝑆𝑢𝑛
Solar flux 𝑆=
4𝜋𝑑2
Radiative power per area for a
𝑅𝐵𝐵 = 𝜎𝑇 4
blackbody

Effective radiative temperature

4 𝑆
𝑇=√ (1 − 𝐴)
4𝜎

Ideal gas law 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇

van der Waals Equation 𝑛𝑅𝑇 𝑛2

𝑃= −𝑎 2
𝑉 − 𝑛𝑏 𝑉

𝑉𝑓
𝑊 = − ∫ 𝑃𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑑𝑉
𝑉𝑖
Work
𝑊 = −𝑃𝑒𝑥𝑡 ∆𝑉 (If constant Pext)

𝑉𝑓
𝑊 = −𝑛𝑅𝑇 ln (ideal gas, reversible, isothermal)
𝑉𝑖
Heat capacity (J K–1) 𝑄 ∆𝑈 ∆𝐻
[Specific heat capacity could be in 𝐶= 𝐶𝑉 = 𝐶𝑃 =
∆𝑇 ∆𝑇 ∆𝑇
J K–1 mol–1 or J K–1 kg–1]
Internal energy change ∆𝑈 = 𝑄 + 𝑊

𝐻 = 𝑈 + 𝑃𝑉
Enthalpy
∆𝐻 = Σ𝐻𝑓o products − Σ𝐻𝑓o reactants

𝑄rev
∆𝑆 =
Entropy 𝑇
o o
∆𝑆 = Σ𝑆products − Σ𝑆reactants

𝐺 = 𝐻 − 𝑇𝑆
Gibbs Free Energy ∆𝐺 = ∆𝐻 − 𝑇∆𝑆 (If constant P and T)

∆𝐺 = 𝑉∆𝑃 − 𝑆∆𝑇 (for general cases)