What Do Subscript Variables Indicate in Thermodynamic Equations?

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Subscript variables in thermodynamic equations indicate which variables are held constant during differentiation. For instance, in the equation (\frac{∂μ}{∂T})_{p,n}, the subscripts p and n signify that pressure and particle number remain unchanged while temperature varies. This notation is crucial for understanding how changes in one variable affect another under specific conditions. The discussion also references an example from Maxwell's relations to illustrate this concept. Understanding partial differentiation is essential for interpreting these equations accurately.
strokebow
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Hi,

Example:

Maxwell Relation (thermoD)...


(\frac{∂μ}{∂T})_{p,n} = - (\frac{∂S}{∂n})_{T,p}

what does it mean having those subscript variables outside of the brackets.

thanks
 
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They are kept constant in the process. For example, the left side is the change of µ if you change T, but keep p and n constant.
 

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