Resolution of an Instructive Gibbs-Energy Problem from the Prigogine-Defay-Everett Framework of Chemical Thermodynamics

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 15 (2010) pp 334-339

Resolution of an Instructive Gibbs-Energy Problem from the Prigogine-Defay-Everett Framework of Chemical Thermodynamics

Isaac Kornhauser, Fernando Rojas, Armando Domínguez *

UAM-Iztapalapa, Depto. Química, Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, C.P. 09340, México D.F., México, doar@xanum.uam.mx
Received December 19, 2009. Accepted March 17, 2010.

Published: 17 September 2010

Abstract. Gibbs-energy is a very useful concept in chemistry. The application of this thermodynamic potential leads to an elegant explanation as well as to a valuable prediction of the behavior of a given physicochemical system. Schomaker & Waser, J. Chem. Educ. 1988, 65(11): 968–9, have proposed an instructive Gibbs-energy problem.These authors present various treatments to solve the problem, i.e. three different possibilities all proceeding from a two-variable approach. Here, we offer an alternative resolution to this problem, which has been inspired on the Prigogine-Defay-Everett chemical thermodynamics framework (i.e. a three-variable approach). In this way, we have pointed up the strength and elegance of this formulation. The resolution of this problem through the Prigogine-Defay-Everett approach could be very illustrative in a first course of chemical thermodynamics.

Key Words: In the Classroom; physical chemistry; thermodynamic

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: doar@xanum.uam.mx)

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