Is the second law of thermodynamics routinely violated?

[Max_S]

@septimus

When natural gas is burned, there are intermediate processes where molecules devolve randomly into states with high free energy. For example the reaction CO + H[sub]2[/sub]O –> CO[sub]2[/sub] + H[sub]2[/sub] requires that a water molecule be torn apart. Yet it happens, and methane couldn’t burn properly without such high free-energy intermediate states.

These states aren’t considered to violate the Second Law because they affect only a tiny portion of the burning gas at any one time, and only very briefly.

I don’t see why they would violate the second law to begin with. What does free energy have to do with the second law? Changes in the distribution of heat within a system do not contradict the second law of thermodynamics as stated by Clausius, Kelvin, or Carathéodory.

@septimus

I Googled a bit, mainly hitting paywalls, but did find a video lecture of that paper. It may be slightly interesting; it includes motion pictures of DNA molecules (which were chosen for their size, shape and flexibility rather than any special biologic properties) traversing a “tilted washboard.” However I do not see any sense of “2nd Law violation” beyond obvious fluctuations similar to those that arise trivially, as in the burning gas mentioned above.

From DPRK’s link you can click on “Download Accepted Manuscript” on the right side.

~Max