Abstract

Initially the ideas of classical magnitude and classical body, continuous media, temporal and constitutive functions, density and rate will be shown, the latter being related to the rudimentary concepts of derivatives and functions. Then the concept of property is indicated, without the use of mathematical expressions, as well as the classification of properties into intensive, extensive and additive extensive. In addition, the concepts of exact and inexact differential equations are discussed and related to that of property. In this discussion, it is shown the illogic and inherent inopportunity use of more than a single mathematical symbol to represent the differential of a variable, from an erroneous concept of differential. The exact concept is then briefly described.

Keywords
thermodynamic properties, functions of state and process, exact and inexact differential equations, line integrals, extensive and intensive properties, thermodynamic state, temporal and constitutive functions, thermodynamics of homogeneous media, thermodynamics of continuous media

Author
Adalberto B. M. S. Bassi
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química

Translated by
João C. de Andrade

Revised by
Carol H. Collins