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On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances
In famous publications, “On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances” is an 1876 300-page treatise by American mathematical engineer Willard Gibbs that laid out the foundations for the science of chemical thermodynamics. [1] The central feature gained from Gibbs’ treatises, according to Dutch physical chemist Johannes van der Waals, winner of the 1910 Nobel Prize for the development of an equation of state for gases and liquids, which Gibbs had sent him shortly after their publication, was the principle that: [2]
Gibbs's Equilibrium paper has been described as "the Principia of thermodynamics". [3] Prior to this monumental work, Gibbs fortified his position by publishing two 1873 papers in the Transactions of the Connecticut Academy on "Graphical Methods in the Thermodynamics of Fluids," and "Method of Geometrical Representation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Substances by means of Surfaces." [4] The three together constitute the foundation of chemical thermodynamics.
References
1. Gibbs, Willard. (1876). "On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, III. pp. 108-248, Oct., 1875-May, 1876, and pp. 343-524, may, 1877-July, 1878.
2. Van der Walls, Johannes D. (1910). “The Equation of State for Gases and Liquids”, Nobel Lecture, NobelPrize.org.
3. Bryson, Bill (2003). A Short History of Nearly Everything. Broadway Books, 116-17,121.
4. (a) Gibbs, J. Willard. (1873). "Graphical Methods in the Thermodynamics of Fluids", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, I. pp. 309-342, April-May.
(b) Gibbs, J. Willard. (1873). "A Method of Geometrical Representation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Substances by Means of Surfaces", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, II. pp.382-404, Dec.
“For a given amount of substance, equilibrium sets in if the free energy is minimum for the temperature and pressure.”
Gibbs's Equilibrium paper has been described as "the Principia of thermodynamics". [3] Prior to this monumental work, Gibbs fortified his position by publishing two 1873 papers in the Transactions of the Connecticut Academy on "Graphical Methods in the Thermodynamics of Fluids," and "Method of Geometrical Representation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Substances by means of Surfaces." [4] The three together constitute the foundation of chemical thermodynamics.
References
1. Gibbs, Willard. (1876). "On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, III. pp. 108-248, Oct., 1875-May, 1876, and pp. 343-524, may, 1877-July, 1878.
2. Van der Walls, Johannes D. (1910). “The Equation of State for Gases and Liquids”, Nobel Lecture, NobelPrize.org.
3. Bryson, Bill (2003). A Short History of Nearly Everything. Broadway Books, 116-17,121.
4. (a) Gibbs, J. Willard. (1873). "Graphical Methods in the Thermodynamics of Fluids", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, I. pp. 309-342, April-May.
(b) Gibbs, J. Willard. (1873). "A Method of Geometrical Representation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Substances by Means of Surfaces", Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, II. pp.382-404, Dec.
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, Jun 25 2008, 9:33 AM EDT
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