THE CHEMICAL POTENTIAL DEFINITION IN DIDACTIC SOURCES

Abstract

This article aims to present analyzes of approaches to Chemical Potential in textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias and Internet sites, as well as to investigate the presentation of definition, conservation, its maximum and minimum values and variation of the his intensity. The Analysis Category of definitions is referenced in Aristotle's historical approach and syllogism. It was observed that some researched sources have established as a premise the relationship between Chemical Potential and Chemical Energy to compare with the relationship between Temperature and Thermal Energy. It was also observed the superficiality in the approaches and the priority to a mathematic treatment to associate Chemical Potential to Chemical Equilibrium, in detriment of an epistemological approach or history. Due to the lack of harmony between the definitions presented in the researched sources, we have come up with a definition for the Chemical Potential. Although Chemical Potential is not a potential quantity per se, like Internal Energy, Enthalpy, Entropy, Helmholtz Potential and Gibbs Potential, we understand that defining it is still a challenge. As a future perspective, this research group aims to disseminate the conclusions of its research on the definitions in didactic sources of the thermodynamic potentials for open systems.