Is \( c_P \) Pressure Independent if \( \alpha = \frac{1}{T} \)?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving that if the thermal expansion coefficient \( \alpha \) equals \( \frac{1}{T} \), then the heat capacity at constant pressure \( c_P \) is independent of pressure. The approach involves manipulating the relationship between molar volume \( v \), entropy \( s \), and temperature \( T \) under constant pressure. A key step uses a Maxwell relation to connect changes in entropy with changes in volume. The problem is ultimately resolved by showing that the necessary partial derivative evaluates to zero, confirming the independence of \( c_P \) from pressure. The final equation for enthalpy change reinforces this conclusion.
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Homework Statement


I'm stuck on a relatively simple exercise which can be found in Callen's book: Show that if ##\alpha = \frac{1}{T}## then ##c_P## is pressure independent.

Homework Equations


What they ask me to show is: If ##\frac{1}{v} \left ( \frac{\partial v }{\partial T} \right ) _P=\frac{1}{T} \Rightarrow \left ( \frac{\partial c_P }{\partial P} \right ) _T=0##.
Where the lower case v is the molar volume and for what will follow the lower case letters are molar quantities.

The Attempt at a Solution


##c_P=T \left ( \frac{\partial s }{\partial T} \right ) _P##. Since both alpha and the specific heat at constant pressure are given in terms of T and P, I will think about v and ##c_p## as functions of T and P.
So ##\left ( \frac{\partial c_P }{\partial P} \right ) _T=T \frac{\partial }{\partial P} \left [\left ( \frac{\partial s }{\partial T} \right ) _P \right ] _T=T \frac{\partial }{\partial T} \left [ \left ( \frac{\partial s }{\partial P} \right ) _T \right ] _P##. Now I use a Maxwell relation, namely that ##\left ( \frac{\partial s }{\partial P} \right ) _T=- \left ( \frac{\partial v }{\partial T} \right ) _P##.
So I get that ##\left ( \frac{\partial c_P }{\partial P} \right ) _T=-T\frac{\partial }{\partial T} \left [ \left ( \frac{\partial v }{\partial T} \right ) _P \right ] _P=-T \frac{\partial }{\partial T} \left [ \left ( \frac{v(T,P)}{T} \right ) \right ] _P##.
So if I can show that ##\frac{\partial }{\partial T} \left [ \left ( \frac{v(T,P)}{T} \right ) \right ] _P=0## then the job would be done. However I'm stuck here, I haven't been able to find a way to show that... Am I going the wrong way? Or simply missing a simple thing?

Edit: Nevermind, problem solved. lol, I was missing a simple thing. I had to perform the partial derivative and I indeed reach that it's worth 0 and hence the proof is completed.
 
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The equation for the enthalpy change expressed in terms of dT and dP is given by
dH=C_pdT+V(1-\alpha T)dP

The form of this equation is
dH=\frac{\partial H}{\partial T}dT+\frac{\partial H}{\partial P}dP

Therefore,

\frac{\partial H}{\partial T}=C_p
\frac{\partial H}{\partial P}=V(1-\alpha T)
So,\frac{\partial^2 H}{\partial T \partial P}=\frac{\partial C_p}{\partial P}=\frac{\partial (V(1-\alpha T))}{\partial T}
 
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