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The connection between the second law of thermodynamics and the principle of microscopic reversibility

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Abstract

The connection between the second law of thermodynamics and the principle of microscopic reversibility is studied with mathematical rigor. It is shown that a kinetic scheme adhering to microscopic reversibility necessarily obeys the second law. In addition, it is also proved that any reaction linearly independent from the others must be microscopically reversible. This condition is not necessary for reactions whose stoichiometry can be given as a linear combination of others. An example is given to prove this fact.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Debrecen, P.O.B. 21, 4010, Debrecen, Hungary

    Gábor Lente

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  1. Gábor Lente
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Correspondence to Gábor Lente.

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Lente, G. The connection between the second law of thermodynamics and the principle of microscopic reversibility. J Math Chem 47, 1106–1111 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10910-009-9634-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10910-009-9634-1

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