CHAPTER 2
Thermodynamics of Living Systems
HENRY EYRING
Department of Chemistry, University of Utah,
Salt Lake City, Utah
RICHARD P. BOYCE* and JOHN D. SpiKEsf
Department of Experimental Biology,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
I. Introduction
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A. Purpose of the Chapter
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B. Scope of the Presentation
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II. Classical Thermodynamics
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A. Introduction
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B. Equilibrium and Open Systems Defined; Steady States
.
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.
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C. A Simple Model
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D. Forms of Energy
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E. Work
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F. Reversible and Irreversible Processes
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G. The First Law of Thermodynamics: Conservation of Energy .
.
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H. Applications of the First Law
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I. The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy
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J. Third Law
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K. Energetics
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L. Summary of Classical Thermodynamics
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III. Thermodynamics of Open Systems
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A. Introduction
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B. Entropy Coupling
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C. Entropy Production
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D. Onsager's Theory
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E. Applications of the Theory
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IV. Reaction Rates in Chemical and Biological Systems
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A. Effect of Temperature on Reaction Rates
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* Present address: Biophysics Department, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
t The preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by grants from the
U. S. Public Health Service (#H-3039) and from the National Science Foundation
(#G-2134).
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