Physical Chemistry – Overview of Thermodynamics

The challenge of teaching thermodynamics to physical chemistry life science students is to have them understand the relationships between the macroscopic properties involving heat, work, energy and entropy.  After dispelling the myth that energy is stored in chemical bonds; after introducing the concept of temperature, and contrasting it to heat capacity; and after doing some introductory examples, I give an overview of the Laws of thermodynamics. The purpose is to encapsulate the ideas in simple terms in an effort to dispel angst.