Disorder - A Cracked Crutch for Supporting Entropy Discussions

Lambert, Frank

doi:10.1021/ed079p187

Cited by 135 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…It has been suggested in ITC studies of tannins binding to proteins that TDS has a systematic error, as any endothermic interaction subtracts from the exothermic heat changes detected by the ITC [26]. It has also been suggested that TDS is not a measure of how ordered the system is and it should be taken as a measure of energy dispersal [27]. When phytate binds to lysozyme, there will presumably be some change in the degrees of freedom in comparison with the non-bound state where the binding partners exist separately.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An isothermal titration calorimetry study of phytate binding to lysozyme

Darby

Platts

Daniel

et al. 2016

J Therm Anal Calorim

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Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to detect phytate binding to the protein lysozyme. This binding interaction was driven by electrostatic interaction between the positively charged protein and negatively charged phytate. When two phytate molecules bind to the protein, the charge on the protein is neutralised and no further binding occurs. The stoichiometry of binding provided evidence of phytate-lysozyme complex formation that was temperature dependent, being most extensive at lower temperatures. The initial stage of phytate binding to lysozyme was less exothermic than later injections and had a stoichiometry of 0.5 at 313 K, which was interpreted as phytate crosslinking two lysozyme molecules with corresponding water displacement. ITC could make a valuable in vitro assay to understanding binding interactions and complex formation that normally occur in the stomach of monogastric animals and the relevance of drinking water temperature on the extent of phytate-protein interaction. Interpretation of ITC data in terms of cooperativity is also discussed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An isothermal titration calorimetry study of phytate binding to lysozyme

Darby

Platts

Daniel

et al. 2016

J Therm Anal Calorim

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“…For example, in Reference [30], the author uses liquid crystals to show that an increase in the order of the refereed system follows the increase in entropy, which could be considered impossible in the context of the connection between entropy and disorder. Additionally, against the idea that entropy and disorder are always the same, see Reference [31]. In the sense of information theory, entropy is related to aspects and problems of information and communication [32].…”

Section: Deformed Maxwell Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized Maxwell Relations in Thermodynamics with Metric Derivatives

Weberszpil

Chen

2017

Entropy

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Abstract:In this contribution, we develop the Maxwell generalized thermodynamical relations via the metric derivative model upon the mapping to a continuous fractal space. This study also introduces the total q-derivative expressions depending on two variables, to describe nonextensive statistical mechanics and also the α-total differentiation with conformable derivatives. Some results in the literature are re-obtained, such as the physical temperature defined by Sumiyoshi Abe.

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“…In a review of this book, Dingle (1959, p. 218) offhandedly dismissed the description as: Ba most inessential visualization which has probably done much more harm than good^. More recently, Lambert (2002a) acknowledged that the disorder metaphor may have served as a 'crutch' for Boltzmann and others in achieving a statistical interpretation of entropy, but he regarded the metaphor as a 'cracked crutch' in science teaching and advised strongly against its use. This has received attention among textbook authors, as Lambert (2014) presented a list of: BThe 36 Science Textbooks That Have Deleted 'disorder' From Their Description of the Nature of Entropy^.…”

Section: Criticisms Of the Disorder Metaphormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…& The messy room analogy and other examples, such as a particular poker hand, give a single snapshot view, rather than showing the large number of microstates, i.e. the multiplicity, of a high entropy system (Lambert 2002a;Styer 2000). & There are several physical phenomena and processes where increasing entropy co-occurs with increasing visual order (Wright 1970), such as the formation of the 'smectic' state of liquid crystals where molecules are oriented regularly in sheets (Lambert 2002a;Styer 2000).…”

Section: Criticisms Of the Disorder Metaphormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the multiplicity, of a high entropy system (Lambert 2002a;Styer 2000). & There are several physical phenomena and processes where increasing entropy co-occurs with increasing visual order (Wright 1970), such as the formation of the 'smectic' state of liquid crystals where molecules are oriented regularly in sheets (Lambert 2002a;Styer 2000). & Order is easily confused with organisation or complexity, which is problematic in particular in biology, where increasing complexity often comes hand in hand with increasing entropy (Haitun 1991).…”

Section: Criticisms Of the Disorder Metaphormentioning

confidence: 99%

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Good Use of a ‘Bad’ Metaphor

Haglund

2017

Sci & Educ

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Entropy is often introduced to students through the use of the disorder metaphor. However, many weaknesses and limitations of this metaphor have been identified, and it has therefore been argued that it is more harmful than useful in teaching. For instance, under the influence of the disorder metaphor, students tend to focus on spatial configuration with regard to entropy but disregard the role of energy, which may lead their intuition astray in problem solving. Albeit so, a review of research of students' ideas about entropy in relation to the disorder metaphor shows that students can use the metaphor in developing a more nuanced, complex view of the concept, by connecting entropy as disorder to other concepts such as microstates and spreading. The disorder metaphor-in combination with other explanatory approaches-can be used as a resource for learning, in giving students an early flavour of what entropy means, so long as we acknowledge its limitations; we can put this Bbad^metaphor to good use in teaching.

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Disorder - A Cracked Crutch for Supporting Entropy Discussions

Cited by 135 publications

References 16 publications

An isothermal titration calorimetry study of phytate binding to lysozyme

An isothermal titration calorimetry study of phytate binding to lysozyme

Generalized Maxwell Relations in Thermodynamics with Metric Derivatives

Good Use of a ‘Bad’ Metaphor

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