Heat vs. Temperature
The average kinetic energy of particles in a substance.
What is temperature?
What is a system in thermochemistry?
The part of the universe you're studying (e.g., a beaker's contents).
What does the Law of Conservation of Energy state?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed—only transformed.
Which heats up slower: water or metal?
Water, because it has a higher specific heat.
A measure of disorder or randomness in a system.
What is entropy?
Energy that flows from one object to another due to a temperature difference.
What is heat?
What are surroundings?
Everything outside the system that can exchange energy with it.
What happens to heat in an exothermic reaction?
It is released into the surroundings.
Why does water take longer to heat than sand?
It has a higher specific heat and resists temperature change.
Which state of matter has the highest entropy?
Gas, because particles are most spread out and disordered.
Why does metal feel colder than wood at the same temperature?
Metal conducts heat away from your hand faster than wood.
What type of system is a boiling pot with a lid?
A closed system—energy can leave, but matter cannot.
What happens when a system loses heat?
The surroundings gain that same amount of heat.
Why do coastal cities have milder temperatures?
Water moderates temperature due to its high specific heat.
Why does dissolving sugar increase entropy?
The sugar molecules become more spread out and disordered.
What causes heat to flow between objects?
A temperature difference; heat always flows from hot to cold.
Why does it matter if a system is open, closed, or isolated?
It affects how energy and matter move in or out of the system.
Why does a cold object get warmer when next to a hot one?
Heat flows from the hot object to the cold one.
Why do pots have metal bottoms and wooden handles?
Metal conducts heat quickly; wood resists it for safety.
Why does melting ice increase entropy?
Liquid water has more particle movement and possible arrangements.
Can two objects at the same temperature have different amounts of heat?
Yes; heat depends on mass and specific heat, not just temperature.
Why do scientists define systems and surroundings?
To clearly track where energy goes in a process.
How does heat transfer show conservation of energy?
The heat lost equals the heat gained—total energy stays the same.
How does specific heat affect cooking and climate?
It determines how quickly substances heat or cool, affecting energy use and temperature stability.
Why don’t all exothermic reactions happen spontaneously?
Some reduce entropy too much, making them unfavorable despite releasing energy.