In words, Eqs. 11.14 indicate that the mixed second partial derivatives of the func-
tion z are equal. The relationship in Eqs. 11.14 is both a necessary and sufficient
condition for the exactness of a differential expression, and it may therefore be used
as a test for exactness. When an expression such as M dx 1 N dy does not meet this
test, no function z exists whose differential is equal to this expression. In thermody-
namics, Eq. 11.14 is not generally used to test exactness but rather to develop addi-
tional property relations. This is illustrated in Sec. 11.3 to follow.
Two other relations among partial derivatives are listed next for which applications
are found in subsequent sections of this chapter. These are
a
0x
0y
b
z
a
0
y
0x
b
z
5 1
(11.15)
and
a
0
y
0z
b
x
a
0z
0x
b
y
a
0x
0y
b
z
521
(11.16)
consider the three quantities x, y, and z, any two of which may
be selected as the independent variables. Thus, we can write x 5 x(y, z) and y 5 y(x, z).
The differentials of these functions are, respectively
dx 5 a
0x
0y
b
z
dy 1 a
0x
0z
b
y
dz and dy 5 a
0y
0x
b
z
dx 1 a
0y
0z
b
x
dz
Eliminating dy between these two equations results in
c1 2 a
0x
0y
b
z
a
0
y
0x
b
z
ddx 5 ca
0x
0y
b
z
a
0
y
0z
b
x
1 a
0x
0z
b
y
ddz
(11.17)
Since x and z can be varied independently, let us hold z constant and vary x. That is,
let dz 5 0 and dx ? 0. It then follows from Eq. 11.17 that the coefficient of dx must
vanish, so Eq. 11.15 must be satisfied. Similarly, when dx 5 0 and
, the coeffi-
cient of dz in Eq. 11.17 must vanish. Introducing Eq. 11.15 into the resulting expression
and rearranging gives Eq. 11.16. The details are left as an exercise. b b b b b
APPLICATION. An equation of state p 5 p(T, y) provides a specific example of
a function of two independent variables. The partial derivatives
0
/
0T
and
0
/
0y
of p(T, y) are important for subsequent discussions. The quantity
0
/
0T
is the partial
derivative of p with respect to T (the variable y being held constant). This partial
derivative represents the slope at a point on a line of constant specific volume (isomet-
ric) projected onto the p–T plane. Similarly, the partial derivative
0
/
0y
is the partial
derivative of p with respect to y (the variable T being held constant). This partial
derivative represents the slope at a point on a line of constant temperature (isotherm)
projected on the p–y plane. The partial derivatives
0
/
0T
and
0
/
0y
are themselves
intensive properties because they have unique values at each state.
The p–y–T surfaces given in Figs. 3.1 and 3.2 are graphical representations of func-
tions of the form p 5 p(y, T). Figure 11.1 shows the liquid, vapor, and two-phase
regions of a p–y–T surface projected onto the p–y and p–T planes. Referring first to
Fig. 11.1a, note that several isotherms are sketched. In the single-phase regions, the
partial derivative
0
/
0y
giving the slope is negative at each state along an isotherm
except at the critical point, where the partial derivative vanishes. Since the isotherms
are horizontal in the two-phase liquid–vapor region, the partial derivative
0
/
0y
vanishes there as well. For these states, pressure is independent of specific volume
and is a function of temperature only: p 5 p
sat
(T ).
Figure 11.1b shows the liquid and vapor regions with several isometrics (constant
specific volume lines) superimposed. In the single-phase regions, the isometrics are
11.2 Important Mathematical Relations 639
c11ThermodynamicRelations.indd Page 639 6/21/10 9:33:58 PM user-s146c11ThermodynamicRelations.indd Page 639 6/21/10 9:33:58 PM user-s146 /Users/user-s146/Desktop/Merry_X-Mas/New/Users/user-s146/Desktop/Merry_X-Mas/New