Thermodynamics

Laws of Conservation

The laws of Thermodynamics govern energy changes in chemical and physical processes. They are:

• First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Conservation of Energy): Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or changed from one form to another. The total energy of the universe remains constant. This is expressed mathematically as ΔE = q + w, where ΔE is the change in internal energy, q is heat, and w is work.

• Second Law of Thermodynamics: The total entropy of an isolated system can only increase over time, or remain constant in ideal cases where the system is in a steady state or undergoing a reversible process.

• Third Law of Thermodynamics: The entropy of a perfect crystal at absolute zero (0 K) is zero.

Thermodynamics