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Entering the word "thermodynamics" in the search of this site, I found forums of people who are just beginning studies and raise concerns about the nature of this theme: what issues addressed, why is this in so many places in most of the curricula or what is important.

The purpose of this paper is to describe precisely what we study in this field so interesting and beautiful, noting why it is so important in the further training and in the work of an engineer (a) chemical (a).

Chemical and Engineering Thermodynamics

On the one hand, chemical engineering is basically the study of the transformation of matter and energy in order to create value and wealth and thereby contributing to the welfare of society. For its part, thermodynamics is essentially the study of some fundamental aspects of matter, energy and their interaction. In both definitions is enclosed the reason why thermodynamics is one of the cornerstones of chemical engineering. Without it as a source of principles and foundations, the social mission of chemical engineering would not be possible to comply to the satisfaction, at least not with good sense and true engineering approach.
The Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

The practical reason why it is so important that the engineer (a) chemical (a) has a sufficiently strong in this area has to do with some of the most basic and necessary questions in practice are made when undertake the task of creating value with the transformation of material A on material B.

Is it really possible that transformation? (Ie, in the sense of whether nature really is possible) and if not, what conditions should change for it to be?, If it is feasible, how far is it possible to make that transformation?, How much energy requires some amount of A to become B?

All these questions, far from being minor, decide whether the chemical industry project technically and economically viable. As we shall see, are those questions that answers with complete thermodynamics expertise. To argue this point enough, and to expand a little perspective, should take a look at what studies of thermodynamics, from the basics to the boundaries of traditional technology applications in chemical engineering.
Object of Study of Classical Thermodynamics

A reasonably general, thermodynamics systems studied, understood as portions of physical space clearly demarcated and well defined, no matter their shape or size.

The systems are characterized by having a certain amount of material, which is in a certain state. This state of the system is the set of physical characteristics that describe it quantitatively, and whose variation is a sign that the system has undergone a change. One way to understand the state of a system is based on the identification and quantification of all those physical characteristics close to those people through the experience of the senses temperature (that is perceived by touch), volume (which we see and measure), pressure (such as that experienced with a chopper, etc.).

The set of quantitative values that at some point take all these thermodynamic properties, is what describes the system from the viewpoint of thermodynamics. If at least one of these properties changes, says the system has undergone a change of state.

Somewhat more specifically, in the classical sense, thermodynamics is limited to studying the systems in the state of equilibrium, ie, interested in the systems in the absence of any cause of change or when all causal has ceased processing complete. Moreover, thermodynamics does not study any change of state, just as interested in those state changes between equilibrium states, and only give explanations about the net changes, regardless of their causes, nor in the media as these changes were possible . It is said that thermodynamics does not explain the trajectory of the process, only the net changes between the beginning and end.

For example, thermodynamics studies the fact that to heat a kilo of liquid water in a pot from 20-25 º C is necessary to provide about 5 kcal. Will the fact and point. However, there are a number of aspects that are not part of its object of study is not relevant if the heating is done in a millisecond or ten years if the cooker was heated on a domestic stove or if he got the pot in an oven to make the most of its surface. The statement thermodynamic merely states that if you have a kilo of water at 20 º C without any factor within or outside the shop to change the status (ie in equilibrium), it is necessary to convey 5 kcal by any mechanism or device it has on hand, so it is 5 º C warmer in a new state of equilibrium.

In a word, thermodynamics is the study of the whys and the hows. The systematic study of the mechanisms involved in the changes of state of a system, together with their causes and details, is the object of study of transport phenomena. One of them, Heat Transfer, will be responsible for studying the mechanisms from which those 5 kcal may be carried up a kilo of water, to estimate how long the task as the mechanism, study possible causes of loss energy depending on the situation and quantified, and allows engineers and engineers to estimate the minimum material resources or equipment, which are necessary to bring the water to that degree of warming. Thermodynamics for all that is out of range.

One way to appreciate the importance of training in thermodynamics for further studies and for the profession in general, from a quick review of those issues to be studied in different subjects. This will also serve as a guide for those interested in knowing what they face when the study of thermodynamics is concerned. The division presented in the following parts of this series of notes is completely arbitrary and does not necessarily coincide with the mesh material of all academic programs.