CALCULATING GIBBs

FREE ENERGY
LESSON 3.3
COMPETENCY

Use Gibbs’ free energy to

determine the direction of a
reaction. STEM_GC11CTIVa-b-
143
 GIBBS FREE ENERGY
-A state function that balance between
the two thermodynamic quantities-
entropy and enthalpy.
-Represented by G, named after the
proponent, William Gibbs.
 GIBBS FREE ENERGY
A state function where both enthalpy and entropy
factors are taken into consideration.
G=H−TS
Where:
G= free energy
H=enthalpy
T=temperature in Kelvin
S= entropy
 GIBBS FREE ENERGY
Free energy is a portion of energy
change in spontaneous reactions that
is available to do useful work.
In nonspontaneous process, free energy is
a measure of the minimum amount of
work that must be done on the system in
order to drive the reaction
 GIBBS FREE ENERGY
Every substance possesses free energy, but the
actual amount is seldom known, hence, the
change in free energy of a system will be
considered:
∆G = ∆H - T∆S
 Spontaneity of a Reaction
∆G < 0 =reaction is spontaneous in the forward
direction
∆G >0 =nonspontaneous in the forward
direction, work must be supplied to make it
occur.
∆G = 0 ,reaction is at equilibrium
 GIBBS FREE ENERGY
If application is limited to standard condition, 25°C and 1
atm pressure, the new equation will be in the form:
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
Where:
∆G° = change in free energy
∆H° = change in enthalpy
T=temperature in Kelvin
∆S° = change in entropy
GIBBS FREE ENERGY
 Problem 1
A drying agent has the chemical
composition CaSO4. Calculate the ∆G° at
25°C, for the following reaction, which has
∆S° value of -139.7 J/K and ∆H°= -18.0 KJ .

CaSO4(s) → Ca(aq) + SO4(aq)

 Steps:
1. Identify the given
Given: ∆S° = -139.7 J/K or -0.1397kJ/K
∆H°= -18.0 kJ
T= 25°C or 298 K
Required: ΔG° for the reaction
NOTE: Always convert J to kJ by dividing 1000 J.
 Steps:
2. Calculate the ΔG°
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
ΔG°= (-18.0 kJ) – (298 K)(-0.1397 kJ/K)
ΔG°= (-18.0 kJ) – (-41.63 kJ)
ΔG°= 23.63 kJ
Since ΔG° > 0, the reaction is not spontaneous at 25°C
 Problem 2
The synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen gas and
hydrogen gas. Calculate the standard free energy
change of the reaction given with the following
entropy and enthalpy values: ΔH = -92.2kJ and
ΔS= -0.1987kJ/K at 475°C. How about at 20°C?

N2(g) + 3H2(g) →2NH3(g)

 Steps:
1. Identify the given
Given: ∆S° = -0.1987kJ/K
ΔH = -92.2kJ
T= 475°C or 748 K
Required: ΔG° for the reaction
NOTE: Always convert J to kJ by dividing 1000 J.
 Steps:
2. Calculate the ΔG° at 475°C
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
ΔG°= (-92.2kJ ) – (748 K)(-0.1987kJ/K)
)ΔG°= (-92.2kJ ) – (-148.63 kJ)
ΔG°= 56.43 kJ
Since ΔG° > 0, the reaction is not spontaneous at 475°C
 Steps:
3. Calculate the ΔG° at 20°C
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
ΔG°= (-92.2kJ ) – (293 K)(-0.1987kJ/K)
)ΔG°= (-92.2kJ ) – (-58.22 kJ)
ΔG°= -33.98 kJ
Since ΔG° < 0, the reaction is spontaneous at 20°C
 Problem 3
Calculate the standard free energy change of the
following reaction at 25°C. How about at 577°C?

2HgO(s) → 2Hg(l) + O2(g)

NOTE: Since the value of S° and H° is not given,
you need to calculate it using the Table of standard
molar entropies and enthalpies.
 Steps:
1. Identify the given
Given: : S° HgO(s) = 70.3 J/mol·K
S° Hg(l) = 76.0 J/mol·K
S° O2(g) = 205.0 J/mol·K
ΔHf° HgO(s) = −90.79 kJ/mol
ΔHf° Hg(l) = 0 kJ/mol
ΔHf° O2(g) = 0 kJ/mol
T= 25°C or 298 K
 Steps:
2. Calculate the ΔS°system/ ΔS°rxn
ΔS°rxn = ΣnS°(products)−ΣmS°(reactants)
ΔS°rxn = [(2 mol Hg)(76.0 J/mol·K) + (1 mol O2)(205.0
J/mol·K)] - (2 mol HgO)(70.3 J/mol·K )
ΔS°rxn = +216.4 J/K
NOTE: Convert J to kJ by dividing 1000
ΔS°rxn = +0.2164 kJ/K
 Steps:
3. Calculate the ΔHf°system/ ΔHf°rxn
ΔH°rxn = ΣyΔHf°(products)−ΣzΔHf°(reactants)
ΔH°rxn = [(2 mol Hg)(- 0 kJ/mol) + (1 mol O2)
(0 kJ/mol)] - (2 mol HgO)(−90.79 kJ/mol)
ΔH°rxn = + 181.6 kJ
 Steps:
4. Calculate the ΔG° at 25°C
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
ΔG°= (+ 181.6 kJ) – (298 K)(+0.2164 kJ/K )
)ΔG°= (+ 181.6 kJ) – (64.49kJ)
ΔG°= +117.11 kJ
Since ΔG° > 0, the reaction is not spontaneous at 25°C
 Steps:
5. Calculate the ΔG° at 577°C
∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°
ΔG°= (+ 181.6 kJ) – (850 K)(+0.2164 kJ/K )
)ΔG°= (+ 181.6 kJ) – (183.95 kJ)
ΔG°= -2.35 kJ
Since ΔG° < 0, the reaction is spontaneous at 577°C
 TRY IT!!!
Calculate the Gibbs free
energy of the reaction
 Problem 4
Hydrogen gas reacts with carbon dioxide produces water
and carbon monoxide. Calculate the ∆G° from the
standard enthalpy of formation and molar entropy values
and predict whether the reaction is spontaneous or not at
25°C.

H2(g) + CO2(g) → H2O(g) + CO(g)

Write it on 1 whole sheet of paper.
Thank You