Chemical Potentials and Heat Production in the Course of Chemical Reactions

Abstract

A major goal of this study is to show how chemical and biochemical reactions occur. Since a large part of the energy transformations occurring via a reaction is always related to changes in potential differences, these phenomenological events are initially also in the foreground. In addition to these energetic changes, however, entropic changes are also important. Here, special emphasis is placed on distinguishing between exchanged and produced entropy. The conversion of energy in chemical reactions into heat energy occupies a special position compared to the conversions of e.g. mechanical or electrical energy in that no forces are involved in the former. Using transport reactions through channels, the process can be expressed in a simplified form. It is made clear that heat generation occurs via energetic transition states, and that it is this generated heat itself that leads to a significant increase in multiplicity. As a result, the reaction process is allowed to take place. The conclusion is that in chemical and biochemical reactions, instead of a force, multiplicity determines the direction and course of such processes.