Thermodynamics Overview

Principles

Definition

Thermodynamics is a fundamental branch of physics and chemistry investigating the relationships between heat, work, energy, and the macroscopic properties of systems. It establishes universal laws governing energy transformations, equilibrium states, and the spontaneity of processes, providing essential principles for understanding and predicting the behavior of physical and chemical systems across diverse disciplines.

Ontological type

Fundamental Laws

State Variables

Statistical Foundations

Key developments

Key Figures

Irreversible Transport & Thermomechanics era

W. F. Giauque [1] was a leading figure in the Irreversible Transport & Thermomechanics era, with affiliations among Harvard University [3] and the University of California, Berkeley [4]. His contributions include providing foundational thermodynamic data for carbon monoxide [5], hydrogen [6], and oxygen [7], which helped anchor estimates of heat capacities, entropies, and free energies central to transport-thermomechanics in this era. D. C. Ginnings [2] is situated within the Irreversible Transport & Thermomechanics era alongside institutions such as Harvard University [3] and the University of California, Berkeley [4]. His 1939 Measurements of heat capacity and heat of vaporization of water in the range 0 degrees to 100 degrees C [8] exemplify the era's emphasis on precision calorimetry that underpinned transport-thermomechanics and diffusion-reaction modeling.

Predictive Multicomponent Thermodynamics era

Éric H. Oelkers [1] emerges as a central figure in Predictive Multicomponent Thermodynamics of this era, with institutional affiliations at University of California, Berkeley [3] and Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier [4]. His key contribution is the SUPCRT92 [7] software package for calculating the standard molal thermodynamic properties of minerals, gases, aqueous species, and reactions across wide P–T ranges, advancing standardized data infrastructures and enabling reliable phase and property predictions. J. Troe [2] is a leading figure with affiliations at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne [5] and University of Lausanne [6] in this era. His notable contribution for this era is the work Theory of thermal unimolecular reactions at low pressures—Solutions of the master equation [8], which advanced master equation treatments to predict low-pressure reaction kinetics and support predictive multicomponent thermodynamics.

Multiscale Nonequilibrium & Information Thermodynamics era

Roger Powell [1] is associated with the University of Cambridge [3] and The University of Melbourne [4] in this era. Among his key contributions in this era are the thermodynamic datasets documented in the papers 'An internally consistent thermodynamic data set for phases of petrological interest' [7] and 'An improved and extended internally consistent thermodynamic dataset for phases of petrological interest, involving a new equation of state for solids' [8], which provided a coherent foundation for modeling phase relations in petrological contexts. Barbara Lothenbach [2] has affiliations with ETH Zurich [5] and the University of Bern [6] during this era. Her contributions include thermodynamic modelling of the hydration of Portland cement (2006 [10]) and thermodynamic modelling of the effect of temperature on the hydration and porosity of Portland cement (2008 [9]), which advanced cement thermodynamics and informed multiscale construction-material design.