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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Thermodynamic Conventions
International journal of thermophysics, Vol.46(5), 61
2025
Abstract
Despite wide use, thermodynamic conventions are almost never presented explicitly as a topic in textbooks, lectures or publications covering metrology and uncertainty. Their meaning, and the particular need for them, is typically just taken for granted. Consequently, an uncritical acceptance and lack of understanding of their implications can often start in the classroom and persist long after, with unfortunate consequences that undermine some important metrological definitions and practices. Thermodynamic conventions generally create reference scales that allow properties which can only be measured as differences (such as enthalpy and electrode potentials) to be expressed in absolute terms for practical convenience. However, the arbitrary nature of these choices made when selecting and implementing any such convention is not only puzzling to students but can also confuse thermodynamic or metrological specialists. If, as a consequence, thermodynamic conventions are not properly understood, theoretical and experimental progress can become stuck within prevailing paradigms. In this work, we identify two such cases relating to pH and Gibbs energies of reaction, and show how more nuanced understandings of thermodynamic convention as a concept enable better choices and lead to improved scientific outcomes.
Details
- Title
- Thermodynamic Conventions
- Authors/Creators
- Montserrat Filella - University of GenevaEric F. May - The University of Western AustraliaPeter M. May - Murdoch University, School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics
- Publication Details
- International journal of thermophysics, Vol.46(5), 61
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- University of Geneva
- Identifiers
- 991005752729207891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 9 Mathematics
- 9.143 Dynamical Systems & Time Dependence
- 9.143.1690 Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Chemistry, Physical
- Mechanics
- Physics, Applied
- Thermodynamics
- ESI research areas
- Chemistry