Verification of the Onsager reciprocal relations in a molten silicate solution

Journal Article · Fri Jan 08 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.259.5092.204· OSTI ID:7186505

Spera, F J; Trial, A F ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (United States)

A key hypothesis in the generalized theory of nonequilibrium thermodynamics is the principle of microscopic time invariance as enunciated by Onsager in the 1930s. At the macroscopic level, Onsager's hypothesis is represented by a set of relations known as the Onsager reciprocal relations, which, when applied to isothermal, multicomponent diffusion, demand the symmetry of the phenomenological matrix that connects mass fluxes to chemical potential gradients. On the basis of experimentally determined diffusion coefficients and thermochemical data for the molten system CaO-Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]-SiO[sub 2], the Onsager phenomenological coefficients have been computed, including an analysis of error. Within experimental uncertainty, the Onsager matrix is indeed symmetric. 14 refs., 3 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-91ER14211
• OSTI ID: 7186505
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 259:5092; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
MASS TRANSFER
MIXTURES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
THERMODYNAMICS