[Flightdeck]

"I really don't think you are equipped for this discussion."

LOL, my PhD advisor in the #1 heat transfer group in the world would disagree. As for this sentence:

Notice that if the third term is positive (and it usually is)

That is absolutely correct, unless the system is a perfect vacuum, so what was your point again?

When I TEACH thermodynamics to undergrads, this argument doesn't happen, because they're not stupid.

[Nov3]

Notice that if the third term is positive (and it usually is)

Do they teach the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions at your number 1 school? I just have a MSME from a lowly State University but I could grasp that concept.

Again your first statement is ludicrous

"The laws of physics show that it will never be possible to get cheap hydrogen and therefore it is a waste of time to even look for a solution.

Tell me the law of physics, and I'll tell you where you you're wrong. There is not cost-benefit analysis in any one of them. "

The hydrogen in water has been oxidized and, catalyst or not, it will require at least the energy that was liberated when the bond was formed to break it. There is no free lunch.