In thermodynamics, chemical potential, also known as partial molar free energy, is a form of potential energy that can be absorbed or released during a chemical reaction. It may also change during a phase transition. The chemical potential of a species in the mixture can be defined as the slope of the free energy of the system with respect to a change in the number of moles of just that species. Thus, it is the partial derivative of the free energy with respect to the amount of the species, all other species' concentrations in the mixture remaining constant, and at constant temperature. When pressure is constant, chemical potential is the partial molar Gibbs free energy. At chemical equilibrium or in phase equilibrium the total sum of chemical potentials is zero, as the free energy is at a minimum.
In semiconductor physics, the chemical potential of a system of electrons is known as the Fermi level.
Read more about Chemical Potential: Overview, Thermodynamic Definitions, Applications, History, Electrochemical, Internal, External, and Total Chemical Potential, Chemical Potential of Electrons in Solids, In Particle Physics
Famous quotes containing the words chemical and/or potential:
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