Thermodynamics of Aerosols

Several chemical compounds (water, ammonia, nitric acid, organics, etc.) can exist in both the gas and aerosol phases in the atmosphere. Understanding the partitioning of these species between the vapor and particulate phases requires an analysis of the thermodynamic properties of aerosols. Since the most important solvent for constituents of atmospheric particles and drops is water, we will pay particular attention to the thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions. 

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This is one of the most important results in the thermodynamics of aerosols. It shows the increase in vapor pressure of small drops compared with the planar surface of the bulk material. Although the Kelvin effect appears often in the held of aerosol formation and growth, direct experimental verification is difficult and few such tests have been made (LaMer and Gruen. 1952). 

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