When can you say a System is in Thermodynamic Equilibrium ?

A thermodynamic system is said to exist in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium when no change in any macroscopic property is registered if the system is isolated from its surroundings.

An isolated system always reaches over time a state of thermodynamic equilibrium and can never depart from it spontaneously.

Therefore, there can be no spontaneous change in any macroscopic property if the system exists in an equilibrium state.

A thermodynamic system will be in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium if it is in the state of mechanical, chemical and thermal equilibrium.

  1. Mechanical equilibrium: The criteria for Mechanical equilibrium is the equality of pressures.
  2. Chemical equilibrium: The criteria for Chemical equilibrium is the equality of chemical potentials.
  3. Thermal equilibrium: The criteria for Thermal equilibrium is the equality of temperatures.
If these conditions are satisfied, the system's macroscopic properties (e.g., temperature, pressure, volume, composition) remain constant over time, indicating that the system is in a stable state of thermodynamic equilibrium.

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