Particle number

The particle number, N, is the number of so called 'elementary particles' (or elementary constituents) in a thermodynamical system. The particle number is a fundamental parameter in thermodynamics and it is conjugate to the chemical potential.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

Daily Visual Balance Check

By calling a constituent element, we state that it cannot be broken into smaller pieces at the scale of energy k·T involved in the process (where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature). Our definition of elementary particle is thus temperature dependent.