The thermodynamic work function

The thermodynamic work function is introduced as a fundamental physical principle. It symbolizes a positive vector of energy transformation in non-reactive systems, derived from the first and second laws. While the first law applies to any system and the second law applies to energy transformation among macroscopic systems, chemical reactions denote microscopic energy transformation inside a macroscopic system. This implies a different statistical mechanism and a change in paradigm between thermal physics and thermochemistry. The chemical work function thus supplants the classical Gibbs free energy concept. The dimensionless form is introduced as the fourth law of thermodynamics, showing that spontaneity and chemical equilibrium are related to Shannon entropy. The assumption that the second law applies to any process is proven false. Instead, spontaneous decreases in entropy are shown to exist when several small objects merge to form larger structures. This leads to a unified scientific understanding of inanimate matter and living nature across physics, chemistry, and biology, reaching out to even the social sciences.