On the thermodynamics of elementary chemical reactions in homogeneous systems

Thermodynamics and foundations of mass-action kinetics

A critical overview is given of phenomenological thermodynamic approaches to reaction rate equations of the type based on the law of mass-action. The review covers treatments based on classical equilibrium and irreversible (linear) thermodynamics, extended irreversible, rational and continuum thermodynamics. Special attention is devoted to affinity, the applications of activities in chemical kinetics and the importance of chemical potential. The review shows that chemical kinetics survives as the touchstone of these various thermody-namic theories. The traditional mass-action law is neither demonstrated nor proved and very often is only introduced post hoc into the framework of a particular thermodynamic theory, except for the case of rational thermodynamics. Most published “thermodynamic'’ kinetic equations are too complicated to find application in practical kinetics and have merely theoretical value. Solely rational thermodynamics can provide, in the specific case of a fluid reacting mixture, tractable rate equations which directly propose a possible reaction mechanism consistent with mass conservation and thermodynamics. It further shows that affinity alone cannot determine the reaction rate and should be supplemented by a quantity provisionally called constitutive affinity. Future research should focus on reaction rates in non-isotropic or non-homogeneous mixtures, the applicability of traditional (equilibrium) expressions relating chemical potential to activity in non-equilibrium states, and on using activities and activity coefficients determined under equilibrium in non-equilibrium states.