Third law of thermodynamic

As we have seen, the third law of thermodynamics is closely tied to a statistical view of entropy. It is hard to discuss its implications from the exclusively macroscopic view of classical themiodynamics, but the problems become almost trivial when the molecular view of statistical themiodynamics is introduced. Guggenlieim (1949) has noted that the usefiihiess of a molecular view is not unique to the situation of substances at low temperatures, that there are other limiting situations where molecular ideas are helpfid in interpreting general experimental results ... 

From the third law of thermodynamics, the entiopy 5 = 0 at 0 K makes it possible to calculate S at any temperature from statistical thermodynamics within the hamionic oscillator approximation (Maczek, 1998). From this, A5 of formation can be found, leading to A/G and the equilibrium constant of any reaction at 298 K for which the algebraic sum of AyG for all of the constituents is known. A detailed knowledge of A5, which we already have, leads to /Gq at any temperature. Variation in pressure on a reacting system can also be handled by classical thermodynamic methods. 

Because the third law of thermodynamics requires S = 0 at absolute zero, the following equation is derived, which enables the determination of the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient for a material without the added complication of a second conductor ... 

The third law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of any crystalline, perfectly ordered substance must approach zero as the temperature approaches 0 K, and at T = 0 K entropy is exactly zero. Based on this, it is possible to establish a quantitative, absolute entropy scale for any substance as... 

These effects are shown in Figure 17.4, where the entropy of ammonia, NH3> is plotted versus temperature. Note that the entropy of solid ammonia at 0 K is zero. This reflects the fact that molecules are completely ordered in the solid state at this temperature there is no randomness whatsoever. More generally, the third law of thermodynamics tells us that a completely ordered pure crystalline solid has an entropy of zero at 0 K. 

Third law of thermodynamics A natural law that states that the entropy of a perfectly ordered, pure crystalline solid is 0 at 0 K Thomson, J. J., 25 Three Mile Island, 525-526 Threonine, 622t Tin... 

Unlike U for which there is no absolute base for energy, there is a state of complete order in which W is equal to one and therefore, S is equal to zero. Thus, absolute values of S can be determined. The procedure for doing so is the subject of the Third Law of Thermodynamics described in a later chapter. 

In the previous chapter, we saw that entropy is the subject of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and that the Second Law enabled us to calculate changes in entropy AS. Another important generalization concerning entropy is known as the Third Law of Thermodynamics. It states that ... 

Experience indicates that the Third Law of Thermodynamics not only predicts that So — 0, but produces a potential to drive a substance to zero entropy at 0 Kelvin. Cooling a gas causes it to successively become more ordered. Phase changes to liquid and solid increase the order. Cooling through equilibrium solid phase transitions invariably results in evolution of heat and a decrease in entropy. A number of solids are disordered at higher temperatures, but the disorder decreases with cooling until perfect order is obtained. Exceptions are... 

C. C. Stephenson and W. F. Giauque. "A Test of the Third Law of Thermodynamics by Means of Two Crystalline Forms of Phosphine. The Heat Capacity. Heat of Vaporization and Vapor Pressure of Phosphine. Entropy of the Gas". J. Chem. Phys.. 5. 149-158 (1937). 

G. E. Gibson and W. F. Giauque. "The Third Law of Thermodynamics. Evidence from the Specific Heats of Glycerol that the Entropy of a Glass Exceeds that of a Crystal at the Absolute Zero". J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 45. 93-104 (1923). 

K. S. Pitzer and L. V. Coulter. "The Heat Capacities. Entropies and Heats of Solution of Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate and of Sodium Sulfate Decahydrate. The Application of the Third Law of Thermodynamics to Hydrated Crystals". J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 60. 1310-1313 (1938). 

Why Do We Need to Know This Material The second law of thermodynamics is the key to understanding why one chemical reaction has a natural tendency to occur bur another one does not. We apply the second law by using the very important concepts of entropy and Gibbs free energy. The third law of thermodynamics is the basis of the numerical values of these two quantities. The second and third laws jointly provide a way to predict the effects of changes in temperature and pressure on physical and chemical processes. They also lay the thermodynamic foundations for discussing chemical equilibrium, which the following chapters explore in detail. 

To calculate the entropy of a substance, we use Boltzmann s formula, but the calculations are sometimes very difficult and require a lot of manipulation of Eq. 6. To measure the entropy of a substance, we use the thermodynamic definition, Eq. 1, in combination with the third law of thermodynamics. Because the third law tells us that S(0) = 0 and Eq. 2 can be used to calculate the change in entropy as a substance is heated to the temperature of interest, we can write... 

In formulating the third law of thermodynamics Nernst1 and Planck2 assumed that a given substance at the absolute zero would have the same... 

For convenience and in accordance with a familiar formulation of the third law of thermodynamics, let us take our starting point for entropy measurements such that the entropy of the crystal is zero at the extremely low temperature involved. Starting with the crystal let us then form by reversible evaporation one mole of vapor at the vapor pressure. The entropy of the gas thus formed will evidently be... 

To reach W = 1 and S = 0, we must remove as much of this vibrational motion as possible. Recall that temperature is a measure of the amount of thermal energy in a sample, which for a solid is the energy of the atoms or molecules vibrating in their cages. Thermal energy reaches a minimum when T = 0 K. At this temperature, there is only one way to describe the system, so — 1 and — 0. This is formulated as the third law of thermodynamics, which states that a pure, perfect crystal at 0 K has zero entropy. We can state the third law as an equation, Equation perfect crystal T=0 K) 0... 

The third law of thermodynamics makes it possible to measure the absolute entropy of any substance at any temperature. Figure 14-12 shows the stages of a pure substance, in this case argon, as the temperature is raised from 7 =0,S = 0toJ = 298 K. As temperature increases, entropy increases steadily. 

The third law of thermodynamics establishes a starting point for entropies. At 0 K, any pure perfect crystal is completely constrained and has S = 0 J / K. At any higher temperature, the substance has a positive entropy that depends on the conditions. The molar entropies of many pure substances have been measured at standard thermodynamic conditions, P ° = 1 bar. The same thermodynamic tables that list standard enthalpies of formation usually also list standard molar entropies, designated S °, fbr T — 298 K. Table 14-2 lists representative values of S to give you an idea of the magnitudes of absolute entropies. Appendix D contains a more extensive list. 

This is an expression of Nernst s postulate which may be stated as the entropy change in a reaction at absolute zero is zero. The above relationships were established on the basis of measurements on reactions involving completely ordered crystalline substances only. Extending Nernst s result, Planck stated that the entropy, S0, of any perfectly ordered crystalline substance at absolute zero should be zero. This is the statement of the third law of thermodynamics. The third law, therefore, provides a means of calculating the absolute value of the entropy of a substance at any temperature. The statement of the third law is confined to pure crystalline solids simply because it has been observed that entropies of solutions and supercooled liquids do not approach a value of zero on being cooled. 

The third law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a perfect crystal is zero at a temperature of absolute zero. Although this law appears to have limited use for polymer scientists, it is the basis for our understanding of temperature. At absolute zero (-273.14 °C = 0 K), there is no disorder or molecular movement in a perfect crystal. One caveat must be introduced for the purist - there is atomic movement at absolute zero due to vibrational motion across the bonds - a situation mandated by quantum mechanical laws. Any disorder creates a temperature higher than absolute zero in the system under consideration. This is why absolute zero is so hard to reach experimentally ... 

The third law of thermodynamics, one version of which is as a system approaches absolute zero of temperature, all processes cease and the entropy of the system approaches a minimum value , is of little importance for biogenesis. It means that it is impossible to cool a system down to absolute zero (even via an infinite number of steps). 

---