Abstract

After briefly presenting the first formulation of the equilibrium constant stated by Guldberg and Waage, this study examines the early thermodynamic and kinetic deductions of the equilibrium law. Firstly, it is discussed how Horstmann applied the concept of entropy to chemical equilibrium reactions, which meant the first thermodynamic explanation of the Guldberg-Waage law of mass action proposed in 1864. A different theoretical derivation of the equilibrium constant came from the works of van’t Hoff. This study analyses the first accurate kinetic treatment of equilibrium reactions as well as van’t Hoff’s imaginative thermodynamic foundation of the constant ratios in chemical equilibrium systems.