---
title: Thermodynamics, Scattered
date: 2024-11-10
---

# A Couple of Equations

When it comes to energy transfer and phase changes there are only two useful equations.
1. **Specific Heat Equation**: This equation is used to calculate the heat required to change the temperature of a substance without a phase change.
   $$
   \Delta \textbf{KE}=Q = mc\Delta T
   $$
   - \( Q \) = heat energy added or removed (in joules, J)
   - \( m \) = mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg)
   - \( c \) = specific heat capacity of the substance (in J/kg°C)
   - \( \Delta T \) = change in temperature (in °C or K)

2. **Latent Heat (Potential Energy Buildup)**: This equation is used for phase changes, where energy changes the state of the substance (like melting or boiling) without changing its temperature.
   $$
   \Delta \textbf{PE} = Q = mL
   $$
   - \( Q \) = heat energy added or removed (in joules, J)
   - \( m \) = mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg)
   - \( L \) = latent heat of the substance (in J/kg), which could be the latent heat of fusion (for melting/freezing) or vaporization (for boiling/condensing)

These equations together describe the heat energy required for changing the temperature of a substance and for changing its phase.

**It is important to note the alternate arrangement of both:
$$
Q=nc_{\mathrm{mol}}\Delta T = \Delta \textbf{KE}
$$
or for the other Latent Heat equation:
$$
   \Delta \textbf{PE} = Q = nL_{\mathrm{mol}}
$$

- $n$ is the number of moles
- the subscript `mol` notates the same variable, but in units *per* mole. 
- ==You might see both==, at least they were both on the concept builders.