What energy requirements must be met in order for a reaction to be favorable?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that for a reaction to be favorable, it must be thermodynamically spontaneous. This is determined by the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) of the reaction.
2. Recall the equation for Gibbs free energy: $\Delta G=\Delta H-T\Delta S$, where ΔH is the enthalpy change, T is the temperature in Kelvin, and ΔS is the entropy change.
3. For a reaction to be favorable, ΔG must be negative (). This indicates that the reaction releases free energy and can proceed without external input.
4. Analyze the contributions of ΔH and ΔS to ΔG. A negative ΔH (exothermic reaction) and a positive ΔS (increase in disorder) both favor a negative ΔG. However, the temperature (T) can influence the impact of ΔS on ΔG.
5. Consider the specific conditions of the reaction, such as temperature and the signs of ΔH and ΔS, to determine whether the reaction is favorable. For example, if ΔH is positive and ΔS is positive, the reaction may only be favorable at high temperatures where the $T\Delta S$ term dominates.

Key Concepts

Gibbs Free Energy

Gibbs Free Energy (G) is a thermodynamic potential that helps predict whether a reaction will occur spontaneously at constant temperature and pressure. A reaction is considered favorable if the change in Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG) is negative, indicating that the products have lower energy than the reactants, thus driving the reaction forward.

Activation Energy

Activation Energy (Ea) is the minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction. Even if a reaction is thermodynamically favorable (negative ΔG), it may still require a certain amount of energy to overcome the energy barrier, which is where catalysts can play a role in lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to proceed.

Entropy

Entropy (S) is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. For a reaction to be favorable, not only must the Gibbs Free Energy decrease, but the change in entropy (ΔS) must also be considered. A positive change in entropy contributes to a more favorable reaction, as it indicates an increase in disorder, which is thermodynamically favored.