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ART. 278 - Does Chemical Transformation influence Weight?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

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Summary

InNature (Vol. Lxiv. p. 181, 1901) I directed attention to experiments by Heydweiller (Drude Ann. Vol. v. p. 394) from which he inferred that some chemical transformations, such as the solution of copper sulphate in water, were attended by real, though minute, changes of weight, and I pointed out certain difficulties involved in the acceptance of this statement. In connexion with another subject, it has lately occurred to me that such changes of weight would really be in opposition to the laws of thermodynamics, and I propose now briefly to sketch the argument from which this opposition appears.

It is known that by suitable arrangements the dissolution of salt may be effected reversibly at a given temperature. During the process, a certain amount of work is gained and a certain amount of heat at the given temperature has to be supplied. In the reverse process, of course, an equal amount of work has to be performed and an equal amount of heat is recovered. The temperature being given, these operations are not affected (it is assumed) by the height above the earth's surface at which they may be supposed to take place.

Conceive now that the temperature is uniform throughout and that the materials are initially at a low level and in one state (A). Let them be raised to a high level and there be transformed into the other state (B).

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Scientific Papers , pp. 56 - 57
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009
First published in: 1912

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