Lecture 04: Fundamental Thermodynamics (Chapter 1)

LECTURE OVERVIEW:
In this lecture, we cover the foundational principles of thermodynamics, focusing on key energy-related parameters such as internal energy, enthalpy, and entropy. We explore the first law of thermodynamics, which governs the conservation of energy, and the second law, which introduces the concept of entropy and its role in determining whether a process is spontaneous. Additionally, we derive the equilibrium constant from thermodynamic principles, connecting it to Gibbs free energy and its importance in predicting reaction behavior under various conditions.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the lecture, you will be able to:
• Understand the fundamentals of several key energy-related parameters
• Describe the first and second laws of thermodynamics
• Derive the origin of equilibrium constants from thermodynamics

RELEVANT READINGS:
• Water Chemistry, 2nd Edition, by Mark M. Benjamin
4. Potentials, Energy, and Forces
4.1. Introduction
4.3. Overview of Potential and Potential Energy in Chemical Systems
4.4. Entropy and Gibbs Energy
4.5. The Chemical Potential and Its Use to Predict Chemical Change
4.7. Quantifying G, H, and S
4.8. The Dependence of G ̅_i on System Composition, Temperature, and Pressure
4.12. Chemical Potential as the Driving Force for Chemical Reactions

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COURSE INFORMATION:
This video is part of the Environmental Chemistry course, designed and taught by Prof. Mim Rahimi. The course covers the following chapters: (1) Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry, (2) Acids and Bases and Related Phenomena, (3) Chemistry of Metals, and (4) Redox Chemistry in Environmental Systems.

COURSE REFERENCES:
The recommended textbooks for the course are:
• Main Reference: Water Chemistry, 2nd Edition, by Mark M. Benjamin, Waveland Press Inc., ISBN: 978-1478623083
• Additional Useful Reference: Environmental Chemistry, 10th Edition, by Stanley E. Manahan, CRC Press, ISBN: 978-1032339726