Abstract
Recently, Drebushchak (J Therm Anal Calorim 103:753–759, [1]) has stated that, “Various ways of thermodynamic evaluations can yield different results, contradicting to one another,” and that, “Thermodynamics is not a rigorous mathematical science.” These are radical claims. If they were true, thermodynamics as it is now understood would have to be abandoned. In this paper, I will defend thermodynamics by demonstrating that these statements are incorrect. Thermodynamics remains a valid, self-consistent scientific theory, and we are justified in continuing to rely on its predictions.
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References
Drebushchak VA, Concepts against mathematics: self-inconsistency in thermodynamic evaluations, J Therm Anal Calorim. 2011;103:753–9.
Callen HB. Thermodynamics and an introduction to thermostatistics. 2nd ed. Wiley, New York; 1985.
Swendsen RH. Introduction to statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Oxford Press, London; 2012. pp. 138–9.
Drebushchak VA. Heat capacity increases with pressure. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2009;95:313–7.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank V.A. Drebushchak for bringing these issues to my attention.
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Swendsen, R.H. In defense of thermodynamics. J Therm Anal Calorim 110, 1547–1551 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-012-2669-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-012-2669-8