Chimica
Trasformazioni della materia, energia e ambiente
Chemistry in English
Glossary
- Law of conservation of energy
Energy can be converted from one form to another, but the total energy of a system and its surroundings remains constant.- Kinetic energy
Energy possessed by an object in motion.- Thermal energy
A form of energy associated with the motion of particles (atoms, molecules, ions) constituting a body.- Heat
Thermal energy flowing between two bodies at different temperatures.- Chemical energy
The potential energy associated with the electrical interactions between atoms, ions and molecules in a body.- Reaction heat
The amount of heat released or absorbed in a chemical reaction.- Endothermic reactions
Chemical reactions in which the system converts thermal energy into chemical energy. More generally, in endothermic reactions energy is absorbed from the surroundings and at the end of the reaction the system possesses more energy than at the start.- Exothermic reactions
Chemical reactions in which thermal energy (heat) flows out into the surroundings. More generally, in these kinds of processes energy is transferred to the surroundings and at the end of the reaction the system possesses less energy than at the start.- Specific heat (or specific heat capacity)
The amount of heat absorbed (or released) by 1 kg of material when its temperature increases (or decreases) by 1 °C.- Heating power
Amount of heat obtained from the perfect combustion of 1 kg or 1 m3 of combustible material.- Enthalpy (H)
Thermodynamic quantity associated with every substance. In exothermic transformations the enthalpy of a system decreases while it increases in endothermic ones.- Fossil fuels
Fuels containing high percentages of carbon, including coal, petroleum and natural gas.- Non-renewable or exhaustible energy sources
Naturally occurring substances of which there is a finite supply: such as fossil fuels and uranium minerals.
Law of conservation of energy.
Kinetic energy.
Thermal energy.
Heat.
Chemical energy.
Reaction heat.
Endothermic reactions.
Exothermic reactions.
Specific heat (or specific heat capacity).
Heating power.
Enthalpy (H).
Fossil fuels.
Non-renewable or exhaustible energy sources.