Partition function

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-008521",
  "term": "Partition function",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A fundamental quantity in statistical mechanics that describes the statistical properties of a system in thermodynamic equilibrium. It sums over all possible microstates of the system, weighted by their Boltzmann factors, and relates microscopic properties to macroscopic thermodynamic quantities. From this function, properties like internal energy, entropy, and heat capacity can be derived.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "ground state"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Green Book, 2nd ed., p. 39 (https://goldbook.iupac.org/files/pdf/green_book_2ed.pdf)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/partition-function/"
}