Compensation Law in Thermodynamics and Thermal Death

Abstract

THE isokinetic relationship or, more generally, the compensation law, a linear relation between enthalpy and entropy, has been debated for many years. Evidence for it occurs in phenomena such as chemical reactions, solubility, evaporation of metals, catalytic processes, thermal denaturation of macromolecules, thermal killing of unicellular organisms, and semiconduction processes. Such a widespread occurrence advises avoidance of ad hoc explanations, and suggests a common denominator on a thermodynamic or statistical mechanical basis.