Thermodynamic probability thermodynamics

It was made clear in Chapter II that the surface tension is a definite and accurately measurable property of the interface between two liquid phases. Moreover, its value is very rapidly established in pure substances of ordinary viscosity dynamic methods indicate that a normal surface tension is established within a millisecond and probably sooner [1], In this chapter it is thus appropriate to discuss the thermodynamic basis for surface tension and to develop equations for the surface tension of single- and multiple-component systems. We begin with thermodynamics and structure of single-component interfaces and expand our discussion to solutions in Sections III-4 and III-5. 

Thus from an adsorption isotherm and its temperature variation, one can calculate either the differential or the integral entropy of adsorption as a function of surface coverage. The former probably has the greater direct physical meaning, but the latter is the quantity usually first obtained in a statistical thermodynamic adsorption model. 

We consider a two state system, state A and state B. A state is defined as a domain in phase space that is (at least) in local equilibrium since thermodynamic variables are assigned to it. We assume that A or B are described by a local canonical ensemble. There are no dark or hidden states and the probability of the system to be in either A or in B is one. A phenomenological rate equation that describes the transitions between A and B is... 

If one would ask a chemist not burdened with any knowledge about the peculiar thermodynamics that characterise hydrophobic hydration, what would happen upon transfer of a nonpolar molecule from the gas phase to water, he or she would probably predict that this process is entropy driven and enthalpically highly unfavourable. This opinion, he or she wo ild support with the suggestion that in order to create room for the nonpolar solute in the aqueous solution, hydrogen bonds between water molecules would have to be sacrificed. 

Indoles can also be alkylated by lactones[l4]. Base-catalysed reactions have been reported for (3-propiolactone[15], y-butyrolactone[10] and 5-valerolac-tone[10]. These reactions probably reflect the thermodynamic instability of the N -acylindole intermediate which would be formed by attack at the carbonyl group relative to reclosure to the lactone. The reversibility of the JV-acylation would permit the thermodynamically favourable N-alkylation to occur. 

The conclusion of all these thermodynamic studies is the existence of thiazole-solvent and thiazole-thiazole associations. The most probable mode of association is of the n-rr type from the lone pair of the nitrogen of one molecule to the various other atoms of the other. These associations are confirmed by the results of viscosimetnc studies on thiazole and binary mixtures of thiazole and CCU or QHij. In the case of CCU, there is association of two thiazole molecules with one solvent molecule, whereas cyclohexane seems to destroy some thiazole self-associations (aggregates) existing in the pure liquid (312-314). The same conclusions are drawn from the study of the self-diffusion of thiazole (labeled with C) in thiazole-cyclohexane solutions (114). 

Thermodynamically, the probability of finding a system in a state whose energy is AE above the ground state is proportional to exp(-AE/kT). HyperChem uses the Metropolis method,which chooses random configurations with this probability, to concen-... 

A quantitative way of dealing with the degree of disorder in a system is to define something called the thermodynamic probability Q. which counts the number of ways in which a particular state can come about. Thus situations we characterize as relatively disordered can come about in more ways than a relatively ordered state, just as an unordered deck of cards compared to a deck arranged by suits. 

Chemists learn to use the thermodynamic probability almost instinctively in a qualitative manner it is quantitatively related to entropy through an equation due to Boltzmann ... 

For the evaporation process we mentioned above, the thermodynamic probability of the gas phase is given by the number of places a molecule can occupy in the vapor. This, in turn, is proportional to the volume of the gas (subscript g) 12- oc V In the last chapter we discussed the free volume in a liquid. The total free volume in a liquid is a measure of places for molecules to occupy in the liquid. The thermodynamic probability of a liquid (subscript 1) is thus V, oc V, frgg. Based on these ideas, the entropy of the evaporation process can be written as... 

A moment s reflection will convince us that these probabilities can be used as thermodynamic probabilities in Eq. (3.21) to calculate the entropy change on stretching ... 

There is probably no area of science that is as rich in mathematical relationships as thermodynamics. This makes thermodynamics very powerful, but such an abundance of riches can also be intimidating to the beginner. This chapter assumes that the reader is familiar with basic chemical and statistical thermodynamics at the level that these topics are treated in physical chemistry textbooks. In spite of this premise, a brief review of some pertinent relationships will be a useful way to get started. 

The thermodynamic probability is converted to an entropy through the Boltzmann equation [Eq. (3.20)] so we can write for the entropy of the mixture (subscript mix)... 

Air Preheating. Use of unpreheated air in the combustion step is probably the biggest waste of thermodynamic potential in industry (Table 2). 

Experimentally deterrnined equiUbrium constants are usually calculated from concentrations rather than from the activities of the species involved. Thermodynamic constants, based on ion activities, require activity coefficients. Because of the inadequacy of present theory for either calculating or determining activity coefficients for the compHcated ionic stmctures involved, the relatively few known thermodynamic constants have usually been obtained by extrapolation of results to infinite dilution. The constants based on concentration have usually been deterrnined in dilute solution in the presence of excess inert ions to maintain constant ionic strength. Thus concentration constants are accurate only under conditions reasonably close to those used for their deterrnination. Beyond these conditions, concentration constants may be useful in estimating probable effects and relative behaviors, and chelation process designers need to make allowances for these differences in conditions. 

Thermodynamics. The first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, dictates that the total energy entering an industrial plant equals the total of all of the energy that exits. Eeedstock, fuel, and electricity count equally, and a plant should always be able to close its energy balance to within 10%. If the energy balance does not close, there probably is a big opportunity for saving. 

Cullinan presented an extension of Cussler s cluster diffusion the-oiy. His method accurately accounts for composition and temperature dependence of diffusivity. It is novel in that it contains no adjustable constants, and it relates transport properties and solution thermodynamics. This equation has been tested for six very different mixtures by Rollins and Knaebel, and it was found to agree remarkably well with data for most conditions, considering the absence of adjustable parameters. In the dilute region (of either A or B), there are systematic errors probably caused by the breakdown of certain implicit assumptions (that nevertheless appear to be generally vahd at higher concentrations). 

But probably the most serious barrier has been the paralysis that overtakes the inexperienced mind when it is faced with an explosion. This prevents many from recognizing an explosion as the orderly process it is. Like any orderly process, an explosive shock can be investigated, its effects recorded, understood, and used. The rapidity and violence of an explosion do not vitiate Newton s laws, nor those of thermodynamics, chemistry, or quantum mechanics. They do, however, force matter into new states quite different from those we customarily deal with. These provide stringent tests for some of our favorite assumptions about matter s bulk properties. 

To obtain thermodynamic averages over a canonical ensemble, which is characterized by the macroscopic variables (N, V, T), it is necessary to know the probability of finding the system at each and every point (= state) in phase space. This probability distribution, p(r, p), is given by the Boltzmann distribution function. 

Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE). This LTE model is of historical importance only. The idea was that under ion bombardment a near-surface plasma is generated, in which the sputtered atoms are ionized [3.48]. The plasma should be under local equilibrium, so that the Saha-Eggert equation for determination of the ionization probability can be used. The important condition was the plasma temperature, and this could be determined from a knowledge of the concentration of one of the elements present. The theoretical background of the model is not applicable. The reason why it gives semi-quantitative results is that the exponential term of the Saha-Eggert equation also fits quantum-mechanical expressions. 

The concentration profiles of the solute in both the mobile and stationary phases are depicted as Gaussian in form. In due course, this assumption will be shown to be the ideal elution curve as predicted by the Plate Theory. Equilibrium occurs between the mobile phase and the stationary phase, when the probability of a solute molecule striking the boundary and entering the stationary phase is the same as the probability of a solute molecule randomly acquiring sufficient kinetic energy to leave the stationary phase and enter the mobile phase. The distribution system is continuously thermodynamically driven toward equilibrium. However, the moving phase will continuously displace the concentration profile of the solute in the mobile phase forward, relative to that in the stationary phase. This displacement, in a grossly... 

About 1902, J. W. Gibbs (1839-1903) introduced statistical mechanics with which he demonstrated how average values of the properties of a system could be predicted from an analysis of the most probable values of these properties found from a large number of identical systems (called an ensemble). Again, in the statistical mechanical interpretation of thermodynamics, the key parameter is identified with a temperature, which can be directly linked to the thermodynamic temperature, with the temperature of Maxwell s distribution, and with the perfect gas law. 

Fig. 2.10. Certain high strength solids with low thermal conductivity show a loss or reduction of shear strength when loaded above the Hugoniot elastic limit. The idealized behavior of such solids upon loading is shown here. The complex, heterogeneous nature of such yield phenomena probably results in processes that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium.

Protonation of the a-carbanion (50), which is formed both in the reduction of enones and ketol acetates, probably first affords the neutral enol and is followed by its ketonization. Zimmerman has discussed the stereochemistry of the ketonization of enols and has shown that in eertain cases steric factors may lead to kinetically controlled formation of the thermodynamically less stable ketone isomer. Steroidal unsaturated ketones and ketol acetates that could form epimeric products at the a-carbon atom appear to yield the thermodynamically stable isomers. In most of the cases reported, however, equilibration might have occurred during isolation of the products so that definitive conclusions are not possible. 

Bromination of 5j5-3-ketones yields the equatorial 4 -bromo compounds (22) as the thermodynamic or kinetic products,although the presence of a considerable amount of 2-bromo isomer has been reported in bromination with phenyltrimethylammonium bromide-perbromide. This is in keeping with other evidence that enolization of 5j5-3-ketones is not specifically directed to C-4. Cleaner results would probably be obtained via thermodynamic enol acelylation. ... 

The relaxation of a thermodynamic system to an equilibrium configuration can be conveniently described by a master equation [47]. The probability of finding a system in a specific state increases by the incoming jump from adjacent states, and decreases by the outgoing jump from this state to the others. From now on we shall be specific for the lattice-gas model of crystal growth, described in the previous section. At the time t the system will be found in the state. S/ with a probability density t), and its evolution... 

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