The Sackur–Tetrode equation expresses the entropy S of a monatomic ideal gas in terms of its thermodynamic state—specifically, its volume V, internal energy U, and the number of particles N: \frac{S}{k_{\rm B} N} = \ln \left[ \frac VN \left(\frac{4\pi m}{3h^2}\frac UN\right)^{3/2}\right]+ {\frac 52} , where k_\mathrm{B} is the
Boltzmann constant, m is the mass of a gas particle and h is the
Planck constant. The equation can also be expressed in terms of the
thermal wavelength \Lambda: \frac{S}{k_{\rm B}N} = \ln\left(\frac{V}{N\Lambda^3}\right)+\frac{5}{2} , ,
Bose gas) in three dimensions. Though all are in close agreement at high temperature, they disagree at low temperatures where the classical entropy (Sackur–Tetrode equation) starts to approach negative values. The above expressions assume that the gas is in the classical regime and is described by
Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics (with "correct Boltzmann counting"). From the definition of the
thermal wavelength, this means the Sackur–Tetrode equation is valid only when \frac{V}{N\Lambda^3}\gg 1 . The entropy predicted by the Sackur–Tetrode equation approaches negative infinity as the temperature approaches zero. At low temperatures intermolecular forces and quantum statistical effects become significant and the ideal gas assumptions become less applicable. == Derivation ==