Thermodynamic Potentials
Legendre transforms that match the variables controlled by an experiment.
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Thermodynamic Potentials
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Natural Variables
The internal energy has natural variables :
Legendre transforms exchange inconvenient variables for controlled variables. The Helmholtz free energy
has natural variables , while the Gibbs free energy
has natural variables .
Equilibrium Criteria
At fixed and , equilibrium minimizes . At fixed and , equilibrium minimizes .
Chemical Potential
The change in thermodynamic potential when particle number changes.
Gibbs Free Energy
The thermodynamic potential suited to constant temperature and pressure.
Maxwell Relations
Identities between thermodynamic derivatives following from state functions.
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy conservation written for heat, work, and internal energy.