16: Nernst's Heat Theorem and the Third Law of Thermodynamics
- Page ID
- 7318
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- This page discusses Walther Nernst's early 20th-century research on chemical thermodynamics, focusing on his Heat Theorem. It asserts that at absolute zero, enthalpy (∆H) and Gibbs function (∆G) are equal, suggesting no change in entropy (S) and challenging the idea that all spontaneous reactions are exothermic.
- 16.2: The Third Law of Thermodynamics
- This page explores Nernst's heat theorem and Planck's extension, focusing on the Third Law of Thermodynamics, which states that absolute zero cannot be reached in a finite number of operations. It provides examples like adiabatic demagnetization and isothermal gas compression, and briefly discusses advanced cooling methods such as laser cooling in relation to the Third Law. Ultimately, it emphasizes the conceptual challenges and paradoxes related to achieving absolute zero temperature.


