. A commentary on the scientific writings of J. Willard Gibbs. Gibbs, Joniah Willard, 1839-1908; Science; Thermodynamics. PREFACE TO VOLUME I ''^;.. The present Volume of the Commentary deals with Gibbs' thermodynamical papers, and principally with the famous paper on The Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances. In this immortal work, Gibbs, building on the sure foundations laid by Carnot, Mayer, Joule, Clausius and Kelvin, brought the science of generalised thermodynamics to the same degree of perfect and comprehensive generality that Lagrange and Hamilton had in an earHer era brought the sci
. A commentary on the scientific writings of J. Willard Gibbs. Gibbs, Joniah Willard, 1839-1908; Science; Thermodynamics. PREFACE TO VOLUME I ''^;.. The present Volume of the Commentary deals with Gibbs' thermodynamical papers, and principally with the famous paper on The Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances. In this immortal work, Gibbs, building on the sure foundations laid by Carnot, Mayer, Joule, Clausius and Kelvin, brought the science of generalised thermodynamics to the same degree of perfect and comprehensive generality that Lagrange and Hamilton had in an earHer era brought the science of generaUsed dynamics. The originality, power and beauty of Gibbs' work in the do- main of thermodynamics have never been surpassed. The gen- erahty and abstract nature of the reasoning have, however, made the understanding of his methods and results a difficult task for many students of science. This has been particularly true of students of chemistry, who in general are deficient in mathematical training and are not as a rule familiar with the methods and results of generafised classical dynamics—a very necessary mathematical precursor to the study of generafised thermodynamics. This state of affairs has been very unfor- tunate in the past, since the work of Gibbs contained a complete and perfect system of chemical thermodynamics, , a system of thermodynamics peculiarly well adapted to the most general and complete application to chemical problems. What, for ex- ample, could exceed, in simplicity and generality, Gibbs' expres- sions, in terms of his chemical potentials, for chemical equilibrium in a homogeneous phase or the distribution equilibrium of inde- pendent components throughout a system of coexistent phases? Although the physicist will undoubtedly find much of the greatest interest and value in the present volume, this Com- mentary is intended for the use of students of physical chemistry as well as physics. The Articles contained in it are not there- for
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectscience, booksubjectthermodynamics
