The Maxwell Relations

Maxwell relations are a set of four equations in thermodynamics derived from the fundamental thermodynamic potentials, such as internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, Gibbs free energy, and enthalpy. They establish connections between how a system’s properties—like pressure, volume, temperature, and entropy—change with one another. Essentially, these relations allow scientists to determine difficult-to-measure properties indirectly through more accessible measurements. They are fundamental tools for analyzing and predicting the behavior of systems like gases, liquids, and materials under different conditions.