Author(s)

Zhiqiang Zhou^1*, Jinsong Peng^1*, Chunxia Chen¹, Li Guo^1#, Qiang Liu²

¹College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.
²Faculty of Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Helmholtz and Gibbs functions are two very important criteria in chemical education. They must have solid origin, that is, their derivation must be rational and reliable. This paper discusses controversial issues concerning the derivation of Helmholtz and Gibbs criteria. The derivation of Helmholtz and Gibbs criteria based on Clausius inequality is claimed completely rational and reliable, while that starting from the total entropy criterion is analyzed and evaluated to be incompletely rational and reliable or at least controversial. Questions about the rationality and reliability of deriving Helmholtz and Gibbs criteria starting from total entropy criterion have been raised for wider discussion.

Critical Learning, Chemical Education, Helmholtz Criterion, Gibbs Criterion, Total Entropy Criterion, Second Law of Thermodynamics

Zhou, Z. , Peng, J. , Chen, C. , Guo, L. and Liu, Q. (2022) Discussion on the Derivation of Helmholtz and Gibbs Criteria in Chemical Education. Creative Education, 13, 1529-1535. doi: 10.4236/ce.2022.135094.