Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Consecutive Reactions01:22

Consecutive Reactions

87
Consecutive reactions involve a sequence where the product of a preceding reaction becomes the reactant for the subsequent one. In a simple scheme, A transforms into B, which further reacts to form C, with rate constants k1 and k2, respectively. This concept is evident in the radioactive decay series. Assuming an initial state with only A present, the conservation of matter leads to three coupled differential equations, determining the concentrations of A, B, and C over time.The rate of change...
87
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics01:26

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

328
Consider an isolated system in which a hot object is placed in contact with a cold one. This is an irreversible process that eventually leads both objects to reach the same equilibrium temperature. It is crucial to note that the constituents of any substance exhibit increased disorder at higher temperatures. As a cold substance absorbs heat, its constituents become more disordered. The energy transfer from a hotter object to a cooler one increases the system's disorder or randomness. This...
328
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics01:20

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

5.4K
The second law of thermodynamics can be stated quantitatively using the concept of entropy. Entropy is the measure of disorder of the system.
The relation  between entropy and disorder can be illustrated with the example of the phase change of ice to water. In ice, the molecules are located at specific sites giving a solid state, whereas, in a liquid form, these molecules are much freer to move. The molecular arrangement has therefore become more randomized. Although the change in average...
5.4K
Entropy Change in Reversible Processes01:10

Entropy Change in Reversible Processes

3.4K
In the Carnot engine, which achieves the maximum efficiency between two reservoirs of fixed temperatures, the total change in entropy is zero. The observation can be generalized by considering any reversible cyclic process consisting of many Carnot cycles. Thus, it can be stated that the total entropy change of any ideal reversible cycle is zero.
The statement can be further generalized to prove that entropy is a state function. Take a cyclic process between any two points on a p-V diagram.
3.4K
Reversible and Irreversible Processes01:14

Reversible and Irreversible Processes

6.3K
The thermodynamic processes can be classified into reversible and irreversible processes. The processes that can be restored to their initial state are called reversible processes. It is only possible if the process is in quasi-static equilibrium, i.e., it takes place in infinitesimally small steps, and the system remains at equilibrium However, these are ideal processes and do not occur naturally. An ideal system undergoing a reversible process is always in thermodynamic equilibrium within...
6.3K
The Entropy as a State Function01:14

The Entropy as a State Function

123
Consider an arbitrary process that moves between two specific states (A and B) in a cyclic manner. This process is reversible and broken down into smaller parts that each follow a Carnot cycle. A Carnot cycle has two isothermal (constant temperature) processes. During these processes, the ratio of the amount of heat transferred to their respective temperature remains constant. The other two processes in the Carnot cycle are also reversible but adiabatic, which means they occur without any heat...
123

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Nanoscale Interfacial Organization Governs Maturation and Collapse in Passive versus Active Condensates.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Phase space volume preserving dynamics for deterministic dynamical systems.

Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Transiently amplified fluctuations assemble dissipative materials.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Phase-space contraction rate for classical mixed states.

Physical review. E·2025
Same author

Avoiding the Kauzmann Paradox via Interface-Driven Divergence in States.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025
Same author

Correction to "Observing the Dynamics of an Electrochemically Driven Active Material with Liquid Electron Microscopy".

ACS nano·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Light-Driven Chemical Reactions and Energy-Harnessing Devices in Photochemical Research
08:12

Author Spotlight: Exploring Light-Driven Chemical Reactions and Energy-Harnessing Devices in Photochemical Research

Published on: February 16, 2024

17.5K

Order and disorder in irreversible decay processes.

Jonathan W Nichols1, Shane W Flynn1, Jason R Green1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125, USA.

The Journal of Chemical Physics
|February 16, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Dynamical disorder in chemical reactions can be quantified using a new theoretical measure. This inequality helps determine the reaction order even when rate coefficients fluctuate, advancing our understanding of complex kinetics.

More Related Videos

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
11:03

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

Published on: December 4, 2017

9.1K
Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
10:42

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh

Published on: May 3, 2019

7.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Light-Driven Chemical Reactions and Energy-Harnessing Devices in Photochemical Research
08:12

Author Spotlight: Exploring Light-Driven Chemical Reactions and Energy-Harnessing Devices in Photochemical Research

Published on: February 16, 2024

17.5K
An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
11:03

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

Published on: December 4, 2017

9.1K
Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
10:42

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh

Published on: May 3, 2019

7.5K

Area of Science:

  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Theoretical Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Dynamical disorder leads to fluctuating rate coefficients in mass-action rate equations.
  • Reaction order, a fixed exponent, dictates the rate's dependence on species concentration.
  • Understanding the interplay between disorder and reaction order is crucial for accurate kinetic modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the relationship between dynamical disorder and reaction order in irreversible decay reactions (nA → B).
  • To extend a theoretical measure for quantifying fluctuations in rate coefficients.
  • To demonstrate how this measure can indicate the ability to deduce reaction order in disordered systems.

Main Methods:

  • Extension of a theoretical measure, Jn-Ln(2)≥0, to quantify rate coefficient fluctuations.
  • Application of the inequality to empirical models of non-exponential relaxation.
  • Analysis of the relationship between reaction order and dynamical disorder.

Main Results:

  • The measure Jn-Ln(2)≥0 quantifies cumulative deviations of the rate coefficient from a constant, thus measuring dynamical disorder.
  • Equality in the inequality holds for traditional kinetics with a single rate constant.
  • Increasing reaction order can either increase or decrease dynamical disorder.

Conclusions:

  • The developed inequality provides a robust method for assessing dynamical disorder in chemical kinetics.
  • The measure can help deduce the reaction order in systems exhibiting dynamical disorder.
  • This work offers insights into the behavior of complex reaction systems beyond traditional kinetic models.