| Abstract Scope |
Chemical potential was introduced by Gibbs as a basic thermodynamic variable whereas Gibbs free energy is an auxiliary energy function that Gibbs used to represent one of the integrated forms of fundamental equation of thermodynamics for a simple system. In this presentation, I will demonstrate that molar Gibbs free energy of any types of phases at any temperature, pressure, and chemical composition in a system with any number of components is simply a chemical potential. Since chemical potential is a basic thermodynamic variable whereas Gibbs free energy is just an auxiliary function, I would advocate: (1) replacing the term of molar Gibbs free energy with chemical potential in future thermodynamic databases and textbooks, and (2) assigning a unique unit, Gibbs (G), as suggested previously in some German literature, to distinguish chemical potential from other energy density quantities such as molar Helmholtz free energy, molar enthalpy, and molar internal energy. |