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In the first edition of P. Atkins' Phys. Chem., somewhere in the
beginning, the statistical entropy is introduced traditionally - the
probability of a single ideal gas molecule to be in a volume V, then the
probability of two molecules to be in the same volume etc. In the fifth
edition, at the same place, the ideal gas model is totally missing -
instead, a crystal is considered. What has happened? Is the ideal gas
model wrong? Should teachers continue using it or should this be
avoided?
I am not sure the essence of the problem would be interesting for the
group (although it can be shown that the ideal gas model is not just
wrong - it if fatal for chemical thermodynamics).  I would only like to
call your attention to the ethical aspect - on noticing a serious
problem, authors just hide it without informing either teachers or
students about it.  I am not sure this is fair.

Pentcho Valev



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