Thermodynamics of natural systems / Термодинамика природных систем

Thermodynamics is the branch of science that deals with relative energy levels and transfers of energy between systems and between different states of matter. Because these subjects arise in virtually every other branch of science, thermodynamics is one of the cornerstones of scientific training. Various scientific specialties place varying degrees of emphasis on the subject areas covered by thermodynamics – a text on thermodynamics for physicists can look quite different from one for chemists, or one for mechanical engineers. For chemists, biologists, geologists, and environmental scientists of various types, the thermodynamics of chemical reactions is of course a central concern, and that is the emphasis to be found in this book. Let us start by considering a few simple reactions and the questions that arise in doing this. <...>