The equilibrium of heterogeneous systems including electrolytes. Part II.— equilibrium at interfaces and the theory of electro-capillarity

Abstract

It has been shown that, in a state of equilibrium, for every portion of the matter composing a system, whether contained in the homogeneous parts or in the non-homogeneous parts about the interfaces, the following equations hold :— t=T; μ1≧ M1⋅⋅⋅ μ≧Mg; for components,(μh+ahV) ≧ Mh;⋅⋅⋅( μh+ahV) ≧ Mh⋅⋅⋅(μnanV) ≧ Mn; for ions, where ah⋅⋅⋅anare the quantities of electricity associated with unit mass of ions, h⋅⋅⋅n, and where the equality refers to actual components of the matter in question, the inequality to possible components. The conditions at the interface between two phases may be obtained by the general method of Gibbs (1). A closed surface is drawn about the portion of the interface at which the conditions are to be investigated, containing parts of the two homogeneous phases and cutting the non-homogeneous parts normally to the interface. The volume V within this surface is divided into two parts I and II by a dividing surface s, which is drawn parallel to and sensibly coincident with the actual interface.