Gibbs Free-Energy Change, ∆G, & Entropy Change, ∆S (Oxford AQA International A Level Chemistry)
Revision Note
Written by: Philippa Platt
Reviewed by: Stewart Hird
Gibbs Free-Energy Change, ∆G
The feasibility of a reaction does not only depend on the entropy change of the reaction but can also be affected by the enthalpy change
Therefore, using the entropy change of a reaction only to determine the feasibility of a reaction is inaccurate
The Gibbs free energy (G) is the energy change that takes into account both the entropy change of a reaction and the enthalpy change
The Gibbs equation is:
ΔGꝋ = ΔHreactionꝋ - TΔSsystemꝋ
Where the units for each term are:
ΔGꝋ = kJ mol-1
ΔHreactionꝋ = kJ mol-1
T = K
ΔSsystemꝋ = J K-1 mol-1
Calculating Gibbs Free-Energy Change
The Gibbs equation can be used to calculate the Gibbs free energy change of a reaction
ΔGꝋ = ΔHreactionꝋ - TΔSsystemꝋ
The equation can also be rearranged to find values of ΔHreactionꝋ, ΔSsystemꝋ or the temperature, T
For example, if for a given reaction, the values of ΔGꝋ, ΔHreactionꝋ and ΔSsystemꝋ are given, the temperature can be found by rearranging the Gibbs equation as follows:
T =
Worked Example
Calculate the Gibbs free energy for the reaction of methanol, CH3OH, with hydrogen bromide, HBr, at 298 K.
CH3OH (l) + HBr (g) → CH3Br (g) + H2O (l) ΔHrθ = -47 kJ mol-1
ΔSθ [CH3OH (l)] = +240 J K-1 mol-1
ΔSθ [HBr (g)] = +99.0 J K-1 mol-1
ΔSθ [H2O (l)] = +70.0 J K-1 mol-1
ΔSθ [CH3Br (g)] = +246 J K-1 mol-1
Answer:
Calculate ΔSsystemθ
ΔSsystemθ = ΣΔSproductsθ - ΣΔSreactantsθ
ΔSsystemθ = (ΔSꝋ [CH3Br (g)] + ΔSθ [H2O (l)]) - (ΔSθ [CH3OH (l)] + ΔSθ [HBr (g)])
ΔSsystemθ = (246 + 70.0) - (240 + 99.0)
ΔSsystemθ = -23.0 J K-1 mol-1
Convert ΔSθ into kJ K-1 mol-1
ΔSsystemθ = = 0.023 kJ K-1 mol-1
Calculate ΔGꝋ
ΔGθ = ΔHreactionθ - TΔSsystemθ
ΔGθ = -47 - (298 x -0.023)
ΔGθ = -40.146 kJ mol-1
ΔGθ = -40.1 kJ mol-1
Feasible Reactions
The feasibility of a reaction can be affected by the temperature
The Gibbs equation will be used to explain what will affect the feasibility of a reaction for exothermic and endothermic reactions
Exothermic reactions
In exothermic reactions, ΔHreactionθ is negative
If the ΔSsystemθ is positive:
Both the first and second term will be negative
Resulting in a negative ΔGθ so the reaction is feasible
Therefore, regardless of the temperature, an exothermic reaction with a positive ΔSsystemθ will always be feasible
If the ΔSsystemθ is negative:
The first term is negative and the second term is positive
At high temperatures, the -TΔSsystemθ will be very large and positive and will overcome ΔHreactionθ
Therefore, at high temperatures ΔGθ is positive and the reaction is not feasible
The reaction is more feasible at low temperatures, as the second term will not be large enough to overcome ΔHreactionθ resulting in a negative ΔGθ
This corresponds to Le Chatellier’s principle which states that for exothermic reactions an increase in temperature will cause the equilibrium to shift position in favour of the reactants, i.e. in the endothermic direction
In other words, for exothermic reactions, the products will not be formed at high temperatures
The reaction is not feasible at high temperatures
Summary of factors affecting Gibbs free energy for exothermic reactions
If ΔH .... | And if ΔS .... | Then ΔG is | Spontaneous? | Because |
---|---|---|---|---|
is negative < 0 exothermic | is positive > 0 more disorder | always negative < 0 | Always | Forward reaction spontaneous at any T |
is negative < 0 exothermic | is negative < 0 more order | negative at low T positive at high T | Dependent on T | Spontaneous only at low T TΔS < H |
Endothermic reactions
In endothermic reactions, ΔHreactionθ is positive
If the ΔSsystemθ is negative:
Both the first and second term will be positive
Resulting in a positive ΔGθ so the reaction is not feasible
Therefore, regardless of the temperature, endothermic with a negative ΔSsystemθ will never be feasible
If the ΔSsystemꝋ is positive:
The first term is positive and the second term is negative
At low temperatures, the -TΔSsystemθ will be small and negative and will not overcome the larger ΔHreactionθ
Therefore, at low temperatures ΔGθ is positive and the reaction is less feasible
The reaction is more feasible at high temperatures as the second term will become negative enough to overcome the ΔHreactionθ resulting in a negative ΔGθ
This again corresponds to Le Chatellier’s principle which states that for endothermic reactions an increase in temperature will cause the equilibrium to shift position in favour of the products
In other words, for endothermic reactions, the products will be formed at high temperatures
The reaction is therefore feasible
Summary of factors affecting Gibbs free energy for endothermic reactions
If ΔH .... | And if ΔS .... | Then ΔG is | Spontaneous? | Because |
---|---|---|---|---|
is positive > 0 endothermic | is negative < 0 more order | always positive > 0 | Never | Reverse reaction spontaneous at any T |
is positive > 0 endothermic | is positive > 0 more disorder | negative at high T positive at low T | Dependent on T | Spontaneous only at high T TΔS > H |
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