Thermodynamically equivalent sphere

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011966",
  "term": "Thermodynamically equivalent sphere",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A hypothetical sphere that exhibits the same thermodynamic properties, such as excluded volume, as a real, irregularly shaped macromolecule. This concept simplifies the theoretical treatment of polymer solutions and melts by allowing complex molecular shapes to be approximated as spheres. It is often used in statistical mechanics to model polymer behavior.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "macromolecule"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 48 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/thermodynamically-equivalent-sphere/"
}