A simple analogy is suggested illustrating the thermodynamic sign convention
and the significance of the negative sign of ΔH and ΔG on spontaneity for general or introductory chemistry students. Enthalpy or
energy is associated with money, and atoms or molecules are referred to as people.
The suggested metaphor for ΔH is net profit or investment into the surroundings;
positive ΔS is viewed as internal investment into the system. Hence, ΔG
is similar
to gross profit in business; its dependence on temperature is illustrated by the
reversal of the market trends for high-tech companies in 2000. The analogy is
further expanded to illustrate the significance of ionic lattice enthalpy, the
positive sign of atomic ionization energies, and chemical bond enthalpies.
More Information
Citation
Kozliak, Evguenii I. J. Chem. Educ.2002 79 1435.
Keywords
General Chemistry; Introductory / High School Chemistry; Nonmajor Courses; Teaching / Learning Aids; Thermodynamics
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