Zeroth Law, Entropy, Equilibrium, and All That

Autor/in	Canagaratna, Sebastian G.
Titel	Zeroth Law, Entropy, Equilibrium, and All That
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 85 (2008) 5, S.732-736 (5 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
Schlagwörter	Thermodynamics; Chemistry; Scientific Concepts; Equations (Mathematics); Undergraduate Students; Undergraduate Study; Science Instruction; College Science; Problem Solving; Computation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thermodynamik; Chemie; Equations; Mathematics; Gleichungslehre; Grundstudium; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Problemlösen
Abstract	The place of the zeroth law in the teaching of thermodynamics is examined in the context of the recent discussion by Gislason and Craig of some problems involving the establishment of thermal equilibrium. The concept of thermal equilibrium is introduced through the zeroth law. The relation between the zeroth law and the second law in the traditional approach to thermodynamics is discussed. It is shown that the traditional approach does not need to appeal to the second law to solve with rigor the type of problems discussed by Gislason and Craig: in problems not involving chemical reaction, the zeroth law and the condition for mechanical equilibrium, complemented by the first law and any necessary equations of state, are sufficient to determine the final state. We have to invoke the second law only if we wish to calculate the change of entropy. Since most students are exposed to a traditional approach to thermodynamics, the examples of Gislason and Craig are re-examined in terms of the traditional formulation. The maximization of the entropy in the final state can be verified in the traditional approach quite directly by the use of the fundamental equations of thermodynamics. This approach uses relatively simple mathematics in as general a setting as possible. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10