THE CHAPTER EXAMINES the principles of chemical equilibrium and phase equilibrium as extensions of the second law. We revisit entropy and define two other second-law properties: the Gibbs function and the Helmholtz free energy. The chapter explores how equilibrium relates to these three properties. The chapter focuses on the conditions of fixed temperature and pressure to explore chemical equilibrium. The equilibrium constant is defined and used to determine the detailed composition of a system. Simple, single, equilibrium reactions (dissociations) are investigated. The equilibrium constant approach is extended to multiple equilibria. The chapter also develops how minimization of the Gibbs function establishes the conditions for liquid–vapor (nonreacting) equilibrium.
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