Basic Concepts and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The vocabulary of thermodynamics, and the principle of energy conservation applied to chemistry.

System and Surroundings

The system is the part of the universe being studied; everything else is the surroundings.

First Law of Thermodynamics

ΔU = q + w

The change in internal energy of a system equals the heat added to it plus the work done on it — energy is conserved.

Lesson 12 of 26
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