Chemistry Homework: Industrial Development and Thermodynamics' Role

This homework assignment, a student-directed study in chemistry, investigates the significant contributions of thermodynamics to industrial development. The student begins by formulating a focus question and supporting questions to guide the research, which explores the relationship between heat and work, the main uses of chemical thermodynamics, and the thermodynamic parameters governing processes. The assignment includes an updated focus question and incorporates research from multiple credible sources, such as academic journals and textbooks, to support the analysis of thermodynamics' role in various industrial applications, including chemical processing, energy production, and food industry processes. The student reflects on the learning process, including the development of research skills, understanding of APA citation, and identification of credible sources. The assignment concludes with a self-assessment, highlighting the increased understanding of the impact of science on society and the challenges overcome during the research process.

CHEMISTRY HOMEWORK
NAME
INSTITUTION
DATE

PART ONE.
I. What is your focus question?
Demonstrate how thermodynamics has contributed to industrial development.
II. Supporting questions that will help me to answer the focus question are;
 What relationship exists between heat and work?
 What are the main uses of chemical thermodynamics?
 What are the thermodynamics parameters that govern the process of burning
wood in an open.
III. Resources to you use to answer this questions are;
 Chemistry text books.
 Chemistry journals.
 Online sites and publications.
 Data collected from one on one interviews.
IV. Presentation format.
I will use research paper format to demonstrate my learning.
V. Material/Equipment needed to complete the project.
 Questionnaires
 Text books
 Writing materials.

VI. How the focus question relate to the course.
My focus question is dealing with thermodynamics. This is one of the branches of physical
science that deals with heat and temperature and how they are related to radiation, heat and work.
Thermodynamics has contributed to various topics in science in general for example physical
chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and in general it also contributes to
meteorology. Initially, thermodynamics was used in automatic heat engines but later it was
extended in the study of chemical reactions and chemical compounds. This is referred to as
chemical thermodynamics which specifies in the study of the nature and the role of entropy in
the progression of chemical reactions.
PART TWO.
What is your updated focus question?
Demonstrate how thermodynamics has contributed to industrial development.
Source 1.
Sandler, S. I. (2017). Chemical, biochemical, and engineering thermodynamics. John Wiley
& Sons.
How do I know this source is credible?
Every credible source must have an author; the date of publication must be clearly indicated and
can have a domain. These domains are purchased by individuals and therefore they can help us
track and obtain more information on the book, article or journal. This source contains all the
three properties.
This source helps me to understand the topic because it gives detailed information about how
principles of thermodynamics has been used to study on the biochemical, physical, and chemical
phenomena . Thermodynamics started with the heat engines but has advanced in the turbines,
internal combustion engines, heat pumps and air conditioners. These items are mostly used in

chemical processing plants and it is important for the engineers to have an understanding of the
same. Biochemical and chemical reactions leads to the production of polymers, chemicals, oil,
gases and other biological materials. All these are examples of how thermodynamics has
contributed to the industrial development.
Source 2.
Giampieri, A., Ma, Z., Smallbone, A., & Roskilly, A. P. (2018). Thermodynamics and
economics of liquid desiccants for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning–An overview.
Applied Energy, 220, 455-479.
How do I know this source is credible?
The source is credible because it contains various authors and it is an educational journal that
was published in the Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. It also has a domain which
assist us to get more information on this journal.
This publication helps me to understand the topic because outlines more information about
thermodynamic characteristics of different desiccants solutions .One of the mostly produced and
known product which is a desiccant solution is silica gel. It is used as moisture proof and
dehumidifying agent. This product has been greatly used in the clothes wardrobes to absorb
moisture and dry the wardrobes. It is also used in moisture proof packaging especially in
photographic materials and cameras, shoes, medicines and electronics like laptops. This is a very
important product which without it, it could be very difficult to preserve these items. This
desiccant solution has greatly contributed to the industrial preservation of these products without
which bulk production would be impossible.
Source 3

Cardwell, D. (2017). Industry, thermodynamics and Society in the nineteenth century. In
The Development of Science and Technology in Nineteenth-Century Britain (pp. XI-1).
Routledge.
This source is credible because it has a number of authors and it is an academic journal which
has to go through various levels of acceptances in order to be published. It also has a date of
publication which was done in Mody University in India.
This Journal helps me understand the impact of thermodynamics because it gives details of
cement production which consumes a lot of heat energy and this has contributed highly to the
pricing of this product. Waste energy utilization is explained in this journal. This is the process
of generating energy in form of electricity from the initial treatment waste. This process is called
energy to fuel source which recovers energy and utilize it in an economical way. This is a one
way in which thermodynamics has been used in this this industry economically because it
reduces waste by approximately 90%.
Source 4
Zisopoulos, F. K., Rossier-Miranda, F. J., Van der Goot, A. J., & Boom, R. M. (2017). The
use of exergetic indicators in the food industry–A review. Critical reviews in food science
and nutrition, 57(1), 197-211.
This source is credible because one of authors if from Wagenigen University in Netherlands
which is a well-known educational institution. It also contains an accepted Author version.
This handbook helps me understand the importance of thermodynamics because it gives
detailed information on exergy analysis which is used in evaluation and analyzing of processes
by identifying their shortcomings caused by thermodynamics irreversibility. It also gives the

details of what exergy analysis brings new to the project, examination, valuation, and
development of energy structures. It also shows how competences are well-defined for
performance valuation. This process allows industries and manufacturers to achieve better
design and styles and therefore saving cost in production through better use of available
resources thus allowing better sustainability. This is one of the direct processes of
thermodynamics which has positively contributed to the industrialization making manufacturing
and production more efficient which is what every organization works towards in their daily
operations.
What new questions do you have?
You may ask the following questions.
 How can Thermodynamics impact the society negatively?
 What contributions have the Nobel Prize winners in science made to this subject?
 What discoveries in thermodynamics have made the world a better place today?
My next steps would be;
 To properly analyze the focus question.
 Identify the materials that I would need to do the research to answer the question.
 Come up with the best way to collect the data.
 Identify the educational resources to be used in collecting the data.
 Embark on the research.

PART THREE-SELF ASSESMENT WRITE-UP
 What did I learn as part of SDS Project?
I have learnt how to come up with the focus questions and the supporting question in a research.
Focus question are general study questions that would require research and understanding in
order to answer to them. They usually start with how or what when being framed. Supporting
questions are subordinate level questions which assist you to answer the focus question. Their
information can easily be found on Google and when being framed, they start with where, who
or what.
I have also learnt about APA referencing and citation. APA is a writing style that borrows from
the 6th edition of the publication manual of the American Physiological Association. It is also
known as author-date because the citation in the text includes the author(s) and the year the
publication was made indicated partly or wholesomely and in the brackets.
I have also learned how to identify a credible source of information by establishing who the
author(s) is, the year of publication and if it has a domain that can be used to track it online. The
source of the information cited in text especially books and scholarly articles can also help me to
know the credibility of a source.
 How completing this project has increased my understanding of science in society.
I have understood how science has greatly impacted on the society through the inventions that
have been made. I focused majorly on thermodynamics and exergy analysis which is early

detection of imperfections, their causes and exactly where they are located during production
processes and this has made production more cost effective because it helps to save cost by using
the available resources in a better way and therefore improving sustainability. Thermodynamics
is also very useful in identifying whether a chemical reaction can occur under the specified
conditions therefore predicting the expected outcomes. It also plays an important role in deriving
important laws like the law of equilibrium .I have understood that science is in almost every area
of our lives and without it we can never achieve quality living as normal human beings. Science
is life.
How I overcame the challenges I faced in completing this project.
I overcame the challenges through finding a partner whom we discussed the project with and
came up with the best way to answer the questions. Together we found the materials that we
needed to complete our assignment.