Entropy and Chemical Substance

Philosophy of Science 77 (5):921-932 (2010)
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Abstract

In this essay I critically examine the role of entropy of mixing in articulating a macroscopic criterion for the sameness and difference of chemical substances. Consider three cases of mixing in which entropy change occurs: isotopic variants, spin isomers, and populations of atoms in different orthogonal quantum states. Using these cases I argue that entropy of mixing tracks differences between physical states, differences that may or may not correspond to a difference of substance. It does not provide a criterion for the sameness and difference of substance that is appropriate to chemistry.

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Robin Hendry
Durham University

Citations of this work

Natural kinds.Emma Tobin & Alexander Bird - 2009 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Chemical substances and the limits of pluralism.Robin Findlay Hendry - 2011 - Foundations of Chemistry 14 (1):55-68.
Philosophy of chemistry.Michael Weisberg, Paul Needham & Robin Hendry - 2011 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Dwatery ocean.Michela Massimi - 2012 - Philosophy 87 (4):531-555.

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References found in this work

What is Water?Paul Needham - 2000 - Analysis 60 (1):13-21.
Elements, Compounds, and Other Chemical Kinds.Robin Findlay Hendry - 2006 - Philosophy of Science 73 (5):864-875.
Elements, compounds and other chemical kinds.Robin Findlay Hendry - 2006 - Philosophy of Science 73 (5):864--875.
The discovery that water is H2O.Paul Needham - 2002 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 16 (3):205 – 226.

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