Full Marks

A-level Chemistry Year 13 · Topic 1

Physical chemistry

Physical chemistry at A2 goes deeper into energy, rates and equilibrium, with more powerful mathematical tools.

We will build Born–Haber cycles and use entropy and Gibbs free energy to predict feasibility, then use rate equations, orders and half-lives.

Then we tackle Kp and Kc, electrode potentials and cells, acids, pH and buffers, and the enthalpy change of neutralisation.

In this topic

  1. 1.1ThermodynamicsFree below · 28 questions
  2. 1.2Rate equationsOpen in Full Marks · 63 questions
  3. 1.3Equilibrium constant KpOpen in Full Marks · 15 questions
  4. 1.4Electrode potentials and electrochemical cellsOpen in Full Marks · 24 questions
  5. 1.5Acids, bases and buffersOpen in Full Marks · 38 questions
  6. 1.6Equilibrium constant Kc: expressions, units, calculations and the effect of temperatureOpen in Full Marks · 64 questions
  7. 1.7Half-life of first-order reactions and concentration–time graphsOpen in Full Marks · 73 questions
  8. 1.8Enthalpy change of neutralisation: strong and weak acidsOpen in Full Marks · 63 questions

1.1 · Free notes

Thermodynamics

Diagram: Thermodynamics

Key points

In more detail

Practice

Thermodynamics: 10 questions

Pick an answer to check it, or open the answer for the explanation.

1. What is lattice enthalpy (of formation)?

  1. Always positive
  2. The enthalpy change forming one mole of ionic compound from gaseous ions, always exothermic
  3. The energy to dissolve an ionic solid
  4. The bond energy of a covalent bond
Show answer

B: The enthalpy change forming one mole of ionic compound from gaseous ions, always exothermic. Ions coming together to form a lattice always releases energy.

2. Why is lattice enthalpy more exothermic for smaller, more highly charged ions?

  1. Weaker electrostatic attraction between ions
  2. Stronger electrostatic attraction between ions
  3. They form covalent bonds instead
  4. There is no relationship
Show answer

B: Stronger electrostatic attraction between ions. Smaller, more highly charged ions attract each other more strongly.

3. What does entropy measure?

  1. Temperature
  2. The number of ways particles/energy can be arranged (disorder)
  3. The mass of a substance
  4. Enthalpy change
Show answer

B: The number of ways particles/energy can be arranged (disorder). Higher entropy means greater disorder.

4. In which state does a substance have the highest entropy?

  1. Solid
  2. Liquid
  3. Gas
  4. They are all equal
Show answer

C: Gas. Gas particles have the most freedom of arrangement and movement.

5. A reaction has positive ΔH and positive ΔS. Under what condition might it become feasible?

  1. Low temperature
  2. High temperature, so TΔS becomes larger than ΔH
  3. It's never feasible
  4. Only at 0 K
Show answer

B: High temperature, so TΔS becomes larger than ΔH. At high enough T, the TΔS term outweighs the positive ΔH, making ΔG negative.

6. What is the sign of the entropy change when a solid dissolves to form a solution?

  1. Always negative
  2. Usually positive, as disorder increases
  3. Always zero
  4. Cannot be determined
Show answer

B: Usually positive, as disorder increases. Particles become more randomly arranged in solution.

7. Which statement defines the enthalpy change of hydration of an ion?

  1. ΔH to break one mole of ionic solid into gaseous ions
  2. ΔH when one mole of solid dissolves in water
  3. ΔH when one mole of water forms from its elements
  4. ΔH when one mole of gaseous ions dissolves in water
Show answer

D: ΔH when one mole of gaseous ions dissolves in water. Hydration starts from gaseous ions and ends with aqueous ions, so it is always exothermic. Starting from the solid describes enthalpy of solution instead.

8. Which Born–Haber cycle step for NaCl is endothermic?

  1. Na(g) → Na⁺(g) + e⁻
  2. Na(s) + ½Cl₂(g) → NaCl(s)
  3. Na⁺(g) + Cl⁻(g) → NaCl(s)
  4. Cl(g) + e⁻ → Cl⁻(g)
Show answer

A: Na(g) → Na⁺(g) + e⁻. Ionisation needs energy to remove an electron. The electron affinity of Cl, lattice formation and ΔHf of NaCl are all exothermic.

9. CaCO₃ decomposition: ΔH = +178 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS = +161 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. What is the minimum temperature for feasibility?

  1. 1380 K
  2. 1106 K
  3. 833 K
  4. 1.11 K
Show answer

B: 1106 K. T = ΔH/ΔS = 178 000 ÷ 161 = 1106 K. Forgetting to convert kJ to J gives 1.11 K.

10. Which compound has the most exothermic lattice enthalpy?

  1. MgO
  2. CaCl₂
  3. KBr
  4. NaCl
Show answer

A: MgO. Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ are both small and doubly charged, so the ionic attraction is strongest and the lattice enthalpy most exothermic.

Keep going in Full Marks

Full Marks has 28 questions on Thermodynamics (18 more than here), set out in practice levels. You also get notes and 3D models for all 8 subtopics of Physical chemistry, plus games, timed exams and past papers.

On your exam board

All A-level Chemistry Year 13 topics