AP Chemistry Unit Review
Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics
How it applies to our lives
Electronics like smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles rely on spontaneous redox reactions occurring within voltaic cells (batteries) to generate electricity.
Key Vocabulary
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Anode
Cathode
Gibbs free energy
Entropy
Galvanic cell
Salt bridge
Main Takeaways
Thermodynamics predicts spontaneity using entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy.
Negative ΔG indicates a process is thermodynamically favored (spontaneous).
Energy is conserved but often transferred as heat during chemical processes.
Electron flow direction in electrochemical cells determines voltage and power generation.
At equilibrium, ΔG = 0. The relation is ΔG° = −RTlnK.
Common Misconceptions
All spontaneous reactions happen quickly. Actually, a reaction can be spontaneous but extremely slow due to a high activation energy barrier.
Unit Quiz
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