AN INTRODUCTION TO THE THERMODYNAMICS OF PURE SUBSTANCES

This introductory textbook presents the essential foundations needed to understand the behaviour of liquids, gases, and solids. Thermodynamics provides a unifying framework for describing the processes that occur in these three phases of matter, relating heat, work, and temperature to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. In this book, we focus on the core ideas, guiding the reader through the four laws of thermodynamics and illustrating their practical applications.We begin by introducing the fundamental concepts and physical quantities required for the study of thermodynamics. The second part develops the subject systematically from its basic principles. Finally, we explore how total entropy and its variations determine accessible equilibria and describe how systems evolve toward equilibrium from non-equilibrium initial conditions.This volume aims to make challenging ideas accessible to students through a clear, integrated, and logical presentation. Each chapter concludes with self-assessment questions whose solutions can be found towards the end of the book, allowing readers to check their understanding as they progress.

• Publication date: 16 November 2026
• Publisher: World Scientific Europe Ltd
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9781800619692