What is a spontaneous reaction?
← Back to Chemistry 2e
Chemistry 2e · 16.1 Spontaneity
Spontaneity: practice problems
3 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.
Exercises 3
Indicate whether the following processes are spontaneous or nonspontaneous.
(a) Liquid water freezing at a temperature below its freezing point
(b) Liquid water freezing at a temperature above its freezing point
(c) The combustion of gasoline
(d) A ball thrown into the air
(e) A raindrop falling to the ground
(f) Iron rusting in a moist atmosphere
Exercises 5
Many plastic materials are organic polymers that contain carbon and hydrogen. The oxidation of these plastics in air to form carbon dioxide and water is a spontaneous process; however, plastic materials tend to persist in the environment. Explain.
Key terms · 2
- nonspontaneous process
- process that requires continual input of energy from an external source
- spontaneous change
- process that takes place without a continuous input of energy from an external source
Learn 16.1 on the whiteboard
The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.