Gibbs Free-Energy Change, ∆G, & Entropy Change, ∆S (Oxford AQA International A Level Chemistry)

Revision Note

Philippa Platt

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:

ΔG = ΔHreaction - TΔSsystem

  • Where the units for each term are:

    • ΔG = kJ mol-1

    • ΔHreaction = kJ mol-1

    • T = K

    • ΔSsystem = 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

ΔG = ΔHreaction - TΔSsystem

  • The equation can also be rearranged to find values of ΔHreaction, ΔSsystem or the temperature, T

  • For example, if for a given reaction, the values of ΔG, ΔHreaction and ΔSsystem are given, the temperature can be found by rearranging the Gibbs equation as follows:

Tfraction numerator bold increment bold H subscript bold r bold e bold a bold c bold t bold i bold o bold n end subscript to the power of bold theta bold minus bold space bold increment bold G to the power of bold theta over denominator bold increment bold S subscript bold s bold y bold s bold t bold e bold m end subscript to the power of bold theta end fraction

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:

  1. Calculate ΔSsystemθ 

    • ΔSsystemθ = ΣΔSproductsθ - ΣΔSreactantsθ

    • ΔSsystemθ = (ΔS [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

  2. Convert ΔSθ into kJ K-1 mol-1

    • ΔSsystemθ = begin mathsize 14px style fraction numerator negative 23.0 over denominator 1000 end fraction end style= 0.023 kJ K-1 mol-1

  3. Calculate ΔG

    • 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

Entropy - Gibbs Equation, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

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 ΔSsystem 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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Philippa Platt

Author: Philippa Platt

Expertise: Chemistry

Philippa has worked as a GCSE and A level chemistry teacher and tutor for over thirteen years. She studied chemistry and sport science at Loughborough University graduating in 2007 having also completed her PGCE in science. Throughout her time as a teacher she was incharge of a boarding house for five years and coached many teams in a variety of sports. When not producing resources with the chemistry team, Philippa enjoys being active outside with her young family and is a very keen gardener

Stewart Hird

Author: Stewart Hird

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.