Partition function, Ideal gas, Entropy

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the derivation of the entropy for a diatomic ideal gas using the internal partition function, specifically highlighting the relationship between the rotational partition function and the degeneracy of the electronic ground state. The entropy formula is established as ## S = Nk\left[ \ln \left( \frac{VZ_eZ_\text{rot}}{Nv_Q}\right) + \frac{7}{2}\right]##. Participants clarify the distinction between distinguishable and indistinguishable particles in the context of partition functions, concluding that the indistinguishable particle correction is inherently included in the entropy equation through Stirling's approximation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of statistical mechanics concepts, particularly partition functions.
  • Familiarity with the Helmholtz free energy and its relation to entropy.
  • Knowledge of Stirling's approximation and its application in thermodynamics.
  • Basic principles of ideal gas behavior and diatomic gas properties.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the Helmholtz free energy for various types of gases.
  • Learn about the implications of indistinguishability in statistical mechanics.
  • Explore the rotational partition function for different molecular structures.
  • Investigate the application of Stirling's approximation in thermodynamic calculations.
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Students and professionals in physics and chemistry, particularly those focusing on thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and molecular behavior of gases.

Incand
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Homework Statement


For a diatomic gas near room temperature, the internal partion function is simply the rotational partition function multiplied by degeneracy ##Z_e## of the electronic ground state.
Show that the entropy in this case is
## S = Nk\left[ \ln \left( \frac{VZ_eZ_\text{rot}}{Nv_Q}\right) + \frac{7}{2}\right].##

Homework Equations


The entropy of an ideal gas is given by
##S = -\left( \frac{\partial F}{\partial T}\right)_{V,N} = Nk\left[ \ln \left( \frac{V}{Nv_q}\right) + \frac{5}{2} \right]-\frac{\partial F_\text{int}}{\partial T}.##

The rotational partion function should be
##Z_\text{rot} = \frac{kT}{2B}##
where ##B## is the rotational constant.

Helmholtz free energy
##F = -kT \ln Z##.

The Attempt at a Solution


The internal free energy is
##F_\text{int} = -kT\left[ \ln Z_\text{rot} + \ln Z_e\right].##
Which gives
##-\frac{\partial F_\text{int}}{\partial T} = k\left[\ln Z_\text{rot}Z_e+1\right].##
Apparantly this is for a single molecule and scaling this with ##N## give the correct answer.

However what I don't understand is if I want to derive it from the full partition function I should have ##Z_\text{int} = (Z_eZ_\text{rot})^N##. But this is the partition function for distinguishable particles. Shouldn't I instead have ##Z_\text{int} \approx \frac{1}{N!} (Z_eZ_\text{rot})^N## for undistinguishable particles?
 
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It's been quite a number of years since I worked through the details of some of these, but your last line looks correct for Maxwell-Boltzmann type statistics. You use Stirling's formula to evaluate ## ln (N!) =N ln(N)-N ##.
 
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Charles Link said:
It's been quite a number of years since I worked through the details of some of these, but your last line looks correct. You use Stirling's formula to evaluate ## ln (N!) =N ln(N)-N ##.

Well that's pretty much my question. The second statement seems correct to me but that wouldn't give the correct answer. Instead the the partition function for distinguishable particles give the correct answer which is confusing.

When thinking about it now, I think I see the reason for that. The indistinguishable particle part is already accounted for in the original equation (the ##N## there is indeed from stirlings approximation). And then it doesn't matter that the internal states are the same since we already accounted for that.
 
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