AP Chemistry Flashcards: Heat Capacity and Calorimetry
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 19 cards to help you master important concepts.
What term describes a process that releases heat, causing the temperature of its surroundings to increase?
An exothermic process releases heat. In calorimetry, this is observed as an increase in the mixture's temperature.
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What term describes a process that releases heat, causing the temperature of its surroundings to increase?
An exothermic process releases heat. In calorimetry, this is observed as an increase in the mixture's temperature.
Besides chemical reactions, name two other processes by which a chemical system can change its energy.
Besides chemical reactions, a chemical system can change its energy through heating/cooling and phase transitions.
Describe the form of energy transfer that occurs when a warm object is placed in contact with a cool object.
The heating of a cool body by a warmer body is an important form of energy transfer, quantified as heat (q).
How does the first law of thermodynamics apply to the transfer of heat in a calorimetry experiment?
The first law states that energy is conserved, so the heat lost by a warmer body or chemical process must be equal to the heat gained by the cooler body or surroundings.
A chemist needs to calculate the heat absorbed by a substance. What three quantities must be known or measured?
To calculate the heat absorbed, one must know the amount (mass) of the substance, its heat capacity, and the change in temperature.
What are two types of heat capacity values used in energy calculations?
The specific heat capacity and the molar heat capacity are both used in energy calculations.
If equal masses of two different substances absorb the same amount of heat, will their temperature changes be the same? Why or why not?
No, their temperature changes will not be the same because the transfer of thermal energy produces different temperature changes in substances with differing specific heat capacities.
What is the relationship between specific heat capacity and temperature change when a fixed amount of heat is added?
For a given mass and amount of heat transferred, a substance with a higher specific heat capacity will experience a smaller temperature change.
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy is conserved in all chemical and physical processes.
What term describes a process that absorbs heat, causing the temperature of its surroundings to decrease?
An endothermic process absorbs heat. In calorimetry, this is observed as a decrease in the mixture's temperature.
What physical property of a substance determines the magnitude of temperature change for a given mass and heat input?
The specific heat capacity of a substance determines the magnitude of its temperature change when a given amount of thermal energy is transferred.
What is the equation used to quantify the amount of heat (q) transferred during heating or cooling?
The amount of heat transferred is quantified by the equation q = mcΔT, based on the substance's mass (m), specific heat capacity (c), and change in temperature (ΔT).
In a calorimetry experiment for a dissolution process, the temperature of the mixture increases. What does this indicate?
An increase in the mixture's temperature indicates that the dissolution process is exothermic, meaning it released heat.
If you mix a hot piece of metal with cool water, what happens to the energy of the metal and the water?
The energy of the metal system decreases as it cools, while the energy of the water system increases as it is heated.
What are the three main processes through which chemical systems change their energy?
Chemical systems change their energy through three main processes: heating/cooling, phase transitions, and chemical reactions.
What is the fundamental purpose of a calorimetry experiment?
Calorimetry experiments are designed to measure the heat transfer (q) that occurs when a cool body is heated by a warmer body or during a chemical process.
How does cooling a system affect its total energy?
Cooling a system decreases the energy of the system.
In a calorimetry experiment for a dissolution process, the temperature of the mixture decreases. What does this indicate?
A decrease in the mixture's temperature indicates that the dissolution process is endothermic, meaning it absorbed heat from the surroundings.
How does heating a system affect its total energy?
Heating a system increases the energy of the system.