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8: Principles of Thermodynamics (Entropy and Gibbs Energy)

  • Page ID
    475268
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    The name "thermodynamics" is really a silly name. Think about it; the field deals primarily with the condition of equilibrium, that is, no change or a "static" situation. The actual field that describes non-equilibration properties is "kinetics" or "dynamics," hence the more apt term for this field is really "thermostatics." However, since we cannot change a name that has been in use for 150 years, we will stick with it and pretend otherwise.

    • 8.1: The Nature of Spontaneous Processes
      Chemical and physical processes have a natural tendency to occur in one direction under certain conditions. A spontaneous process occurs without the need for a continual input of energy from some external source, while a nonspontaneous process requires such. Systems undergoing a spontaneous process may or may not experience a gain or loss of energy, but they will experience a change in the way matter and/or energy is distributed within the system.
    • 8.2: Entropy and Spontaneity - A Molecular Statistical Interpretation
      These forms of motion are ways in which the molecule can store energy. The greater the molecular motion of a system, the greater the number of possible microstates and the higher the entropy. A perfectly ordered system with only a single microstate available to it would have an entropy of zero. The only system that meets this criterion is a perfect crystal at a temperature of absolute zero (0 K), in which each component atom, molecule, or ion is fixed in place within a perfect crystal lattice.
    • 8.3: Entropy and Heat - Experimental Basis of the Second Law of Thermodynamics
      A reversible process is one for which all intermediate states between extremes are equilibrium states; it can change direction at any time. In contrast, an irreversible process occurs in one direction only. The change in entropy of the system or the surroundings is the quantity of heat transferred divided by the temperature. The second law of thermodynamics states that in a reversible process, the entropy of the universe is constant.
    • 8.4: Entropy Changes and Spontaneity
      This page explores the second and third laws of thermodynamics, emphasizing entropy's role in spontaneous processes, where universal entropy increases (\(ΔS_{univ} > 0\)). It analyzes heat transfer scenarios to determine spontaneous versus non-spontaneous occurrences based on entropy changes. Key equations for calculating these changes are provided, along with examples, such as the melting of ice at varying temperatures, to illustrate the concepts discussed.
    • 8.5: Entropy Changes in Reversible Processes
      This page defines entropy in relation to energy distribution and transformations in thermodynamic systems, emphasizing its role in reversible and irreversible processes. It explains that entropy increases with the dispersion of substances, particularly in ideal gases during isothermal changes. The second law of thermodynamics is highlighted, stating that entropy remains constant in reversible processes but increases in irreversible ones.
    • 8.6: Quantum States, Microstates, and Energy Spreading
      This page discusses entropy as a measure of thermal energy distribution that increases with factors like molecular weight, temperature, and concentration. It highlights the higher entropy in gases compared to condensed phases due to more accessible microstates. Spontaneous processes, including gas mixing and heat transfer, result in energy dispersal and uniform distribution, contributing to the concept of "heat death.
    • 8.7: The Third Law of Thermodynamics
      This page discusses absolute entropy and its connection to the third law of thermodynamics, stating that a pure crystalline substance has zero entropy at absolute zero. Entropy is related to molecular motion, with higher temperatures allowing for more microstates and thus increased entropy.
    • 8.8: Gibbs Energy
      One of the major goals of chemical thermodynamics is to establish criteria for predicting whether a particular reaction or process will occur spontaneously. We have developed one such criterion, the change in entropy of the universe. This is not particularly useful and a criterion of spontaneity that is based solely on the state functions of a system would be much more convenient and is provided by a new state function: the Gibbs free energy.
    • 8.E: Principles of Thermodynamics (Exercises)
      These are homework exercises to accompany the Textmap created for "Principles of Modern Chemistry" by Oxtoby et al.


    This page titled 8: Principles of Thermodynamics (Entropy and Gibbs Energy) is shared under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ta-Wei Li.