Variation of chemical potential with T and P

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between Gibbs free energy (G) and chemical potential (μ) as expressed in the equation dG = -SdT + VdP + μdN. It confirms that changes in chemical potential due to variations in temperature (T) and pressure (P) are inherently included in this equation, alongside changes from particle number (N). The participants clarify that the infinitesimal change in G can be expressed using partial derivatives, reinforcing that μ is a function of T and P. Additionally, the distinction between chemical potential and chemical affinity is explored, highlighting their differing signs in relation to reaction progression.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamic principles, specifically Gibbs free energy.
  • Familiarity with partial differentiation and its application in thermodynamics.
  • Knowledge of chemical potential and its role in chemical reactions.
  • Basic concepts of chemical affinity and its relationship to Gibbs free energy.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and implications of the Gibbs free energy equation in thermodynamics.
  • Learn about the relationship between chemical potential and reaction spontaneity.
  • Explore the concept of partial molar properties, including partial molar entropy and volume.
  • Investigate the mathematical relationship between chemical affinity and Gibbs free energy changes in reactions.
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Chemists, chemical engineers, and students of thermodynamics seeking to deepen their understanding of Gibbs free energy, chemical potential, and their applications in reaction kinetics.

Urmi Roy
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So the expression for Gibb's free energy is:

dG = -SdT + VdP + μdN,

Here, we see that the Gibb's free energy changes with temperature (dT), change in pressure (dP) and change in chemical potential (as a result of change in particle number).

My question is: we know chemical potential varies with both change in temperature and pressure. So if we don't add/remove particles from the system, the chemical potential does change with variation of P and T...so is that already included in the above equation?

(That is, in the above equation, are we accounting for the change in Gibb's free energy as a result of change in chemical potential as a result of variation of T and P, in addition to the change in chemical potential due to change in particle number).

Further, when the number of particles changes, there might be a number of chemical reactions that take place, so the temperature T might change because of that also, which would change the sdT term at the beginning, right?

I guess I'm just having problems understanding chemical potential :-/
 
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Urmi Roy said:
So the expression for Gibb's free energy is:

dG = -SdT + VdP + μdN,

Here, we see that the Gibb's free energy changes with temperature (dT), change in pressure (dP) and change in chemical potential (as a result of change in particle number).

My question is: we know chemical potential varies with both change in temperature and pressure. So if we don't add/remove particles from the system, the chemical potential does change with variation of P and T...so is that already included in the above equation?

(That is, in the above equation, are we accounting for the change in Gibb's free energy as a result of change in chemical potential as a result of variation of T and P, in addition to the change in chemical potential due to change in particle number).



Further, when the number of particles changes, there might be a number of chemical reactions that take place, so the temperature T might change because of that also, which would change the sdT term at the beginning, right?

I guess I'm just having problems understanding chemical potential :-/

The answer to all your questions is "yes", the equation for dG takes all these things into account. The Gibbs Free Energy G can be expressed as a function of T, P, and N1, ..., Nm, where m is the number of species in the solution:

G=G(T,P,N_1,...,N_m)

An infinitecimal change in G can be represented using the chain rule for partial differentiation:

dG=\frac{\partial G}{\partial T}dT+\frac{\partial G}{\partial P}dP+\frac{\partial G}{\partial N_1}dN_1+...+\frac{\partial G}{\partial N_m}dN_m
Each of the partial derivatives in this equation is a function of T, P, and the N's, with
\frac{\partial G}{\partial T}=-S
\frac{\partial G}{\partial P}=V
and
\frac{\partial G}{\partial N_i}=μ_i

I hope this helps.
 
Of course mu is a function of T and P, also.
Given that ##\mu=\partial G/\partial N## we have ##(\partial\mu /\partial T)_P=\partial^2 G/\partial N \partial T=\partial^2 G /\partial T \partial N =-(\partial S/\partial N)_P = S_m## i.e. the partial molar entropy and analogously
##(\partial \mu/\partial P)_T=V_m ## the partial molar volume.
So for fixed N, ##d\mu=-S_mdT+V_m dP##
 
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Can I just go on to ask what the difference between chemical potential and chemical affinity is? They seem to , intuitively, mean the same thing but chemical potential is +ve for a reaction that's progressing and affinity is negative!

Also, is A (affinity) always the same sign as the rate of reaction?
 
##A=-\Delta G_r=-\sum \nu_i \mu_i##
were ##\nu_i## are the stochiometric coefficients of the reaction taking place.
So basically A is a weighed sum of chemical potentials.
 
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