On metastable states of equilibrium in thermodynamics

✍ Scribed by J.L. Finck

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1947
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 634 KB
• Volume: 243
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-0032(47)90031-8

✦ Synopsis

In this paper the concept of reversibility is considered, and it is found that the question of reversibility of a process depends upon the number of independent variables of a system. For a single homogeneous closed phase subject only to mechanical and thermal changes, just two independent variables have been considered in classic thermodynamics. This practice requires that some states be characterized as metastable. Justification is offered for a change in this accepted view. Instead of classifying systems in phases, it is propo~d to consider • systems on the basis of number of types of transformation. A single gaseous phase subject to dissociation is found to be analogous to a liquid vapor system; each system has three independent variables, such as p, v, T, and equations of state will be of the form e = F(p, v, T) = G(p, T, x) and v = 4~(p, T, x) where e is the internal energy and x the degree of transformation. These equations include all metastable states.