Spontaneity and Gibbs Energy

What determines whether a reaction happens on its own, without outside help.

Entropy

Entropy (S) is a measure of the randomness or disorder of a system. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the total entropy of the universe always increases for a spontaneous process.

Gibbs Energy

ΔG = ΔH - TΔS

A reaction is spontaneous when its Gibbs energy change (ΔG) is negative.

Lesson 14 of 26
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