(a) For most efficient use, refrigerator freezer compartments should be fully packed with food. What is the thermochemical basis for this recommendation? (b) Starting at the same temperature, tea and coffee remain hot longer in a thermal flask than chicken noodle soup. Explain.

Short Answer

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(a) Packing a freezer compartment full is more efficient because solids and liquids conduct heat less efficiently than air, thereby reducing the rate of heat transfer and energy consumption. \n(b) Tea and coffee stay hot longer than soup in a thermal flask because they lose heat primarily through conduction and radiation whereas soup, having mixed particles of different densities, experiences more significant heat loss through convection, causing it to cool faster.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Thermochemical Basis for Packing Freezer Compartments Fully

Packing the freezer full of food is more efficient because food items, being solids and liquids, conduct heat less efficiently than air. When the compartment is fully packed, there is less air circulating, reducing the rate of heat transfer and thus, the freezer doesn't have to work as hard to remove heat. This reduces energy consumption, thus making it more efficient.
02

Understanding Why Beverages Stay Hot Longer than Soup in a Flask

The main principle here is the difference in heat transfer methods. In the case of tea and coffee, the heat loss is primarily by conduction and minorly by radiation. However, in the case of chicken noodle soup, there is an additional presence of convection currents due to mixed particles of different densities causing the soup to cool faster. In liquids, particles closer to the surface gain more energy and form convection currents. In more homogenous liquids like coffee or tea, these currents are less due to the uniform density, thus making them cool slower compared to chicken noodle soup.

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