Lesson 12.

1
Gibbs Free Energy
Change and Reaction
Spontaneity

General Chemistry 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
When silver ions and chloride ions are mixed
together, they spontaneously form a white silver
chloride precipitate.

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This reaction occurs
without any external
help despite its
decreasing entropy.

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In this lesson, you will learn all about the Gibbs free energy,
which is a concept that incorporates the entropy change of
the universe and is a better metric for assessing the
spontaneity of a process.

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What is Gibbs free energy?

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Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Use Gibbs’ free energy to determine the

direction of a reaction (STEM_GC11CT-IVa-b-
143).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Define Gibbs free energy.

● Discuss how the Gibbs free energy can be used to

assess the spontaneity of a process.

● Calculate the Gibbs free energy of chemical

reactions.

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How do we calculate the
entropy change of the
surrounding?

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 Second Law Of Thermodynamics

The entropy of the universe increases for spontaneous

processes.

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 Entropy Change of the Surrounding

● The surrounding serves as a heat source or heat sink

for the process our system undergoes.
● Assuming that the surrounding is so large that its
temperature remains constant,

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Entropy Change of the Surrounding

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Entropy Change of the Surrounding

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 Gibbs Free Energy

● denoted by the symbol G

● like entropy and enthalpy, it is also a state function.
● measure of the available energy in a system to do non-
PV work
● for a process at constant temperature,

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How is the Gibbs free energy
change used to evaluate
spontaneity?

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 Gibbs Free Energy and Spontaneity

● The second law of thermodynamics states that for

spontaneous processes,

● As defined previously,

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 Gibbs Free Energy and Spontaneity

● For a reaction to be spontaneous,

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Remember

spontaneous process (exergonic):

ΔG < 0
nonspontaneous process (endergonic):
ΔG > 0
equilibrium process:
ΔG = 0

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change (in kJ/mol) for

the combustion of methane (CH4) at 298 K, given that
its ΔHcombustion is -890.4 kJ/mol, and its ΔScombustion is -
242.2 J/mol K.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change (in kJ/mol) for

the combustion of methane (CH4) at 298 K, given that
its ΔHcombustion is -890.4 kJ/mol, and its ΔScombustion is -
242.2 J/mol K.

At 298 K, the Gibbs free energy change for the

combustion of methane is -818.2 kJ/mol.
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Try It!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change

(in kJ/mol) for the decomposition of
CaCO3 at 298 K, given that its ΔH is 178
kJ/mol, and its ΔS is 160.4 J/mol K.
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change (in kJ/mol) for

the melting of water at 25 ℃, given that the ΔHfus of
water is 6.01 kJ/mol, and its ΔSfus is 22.0 J/mol K.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change (in kJ/mol) for

the melting of water at 25 ℃, given that the ΔHfus of
water is 6.01 kJ/mol, and its ΔSfus is 22.0 J/mol K.

At 25 ºC, the Gibbs free energy change for the melting

of water is -0.55 kJ/mol.
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Try It!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change

(in kJ/mol) for the boiling of water at 25
℃, given that the ΔHvap of water is 40.7
kJ/mol, and its ΔSvapis 109.02 J/mol K.

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 Let’s Practice!

Consider the following reaction:

Calculate its Gibbs free energy change at 298 K given

the following data:

Substance ΔHfo (kJ/mol) ΔSo (J/mol K)

CaO(s) -635.1 39.75
H2O(l) -285.8 69.91
Ca(OH)2(s) -986.1 83.39 24
 Let’s Practice!

Calculate its Gibbs free energy change at 298 K.

At 298 K, the Gibbs free energy change for the given

reaction is -57.4 kJ/mol

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Try It!
Consider the following reaction:
PCl3(g) + Cl2(g) → PCl5(g)
Calculate its Gibbs free energy change
at 333 K given the following data:
Substance ΔHfo (kJ/mol) ΔSo (J/mol K)
PCl3(g) -287.0 311.8
Cl2(g) 0 223.1
PCl5(g) -374.9 364.6
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 Standard Free Energy Change

Standard free energy change (ΔGo) is the Gibbs free

energy change for a reaction where all substances are in
their standard states.

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 Standard Free Energy Change

Standard free energy of formation (ΔGof) is the free

energy change for the formation of a substance from its
elements in their reference forms in the standard state.

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Remember

ΔGof = 0
for free elements in their reference form in
the standard states.

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Draw a crude reaction progress
diagram for an endergonic and
an exergonic reaction. Label the
axes properly.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change for the

combustion of methane (CH4) at 298 K given the
following values for standard free energy of
formation: ΔGof [CH4 (g)] = -50.72 kJ/mol; ΔGof [O2 (g)] =
0 kJ/mol; ΔGof [CO2 (g)] = -394.4 kJ/mol; ΔGof [H2O (l)] = -
237.1 kJ/mol.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change for the

combustion of methane (CH4) at 298 K.

At 298 K, the standard Gibbs free energy change for

the combustion of methane is -817.9 kJ/mol.

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Try It!
Calculate the Gibbs free energy change
for the decomposition of CaCO3 at 298 K
given the following values for standard
free energy of formation: ΔGof [CaCO3
(s)] = -1129 kJ/mol; ΔGof [CaO (s)] = -604.0
kJ/mol; ΔGof [CO2 (g)] = -394.4 kJ/mol.

CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the free energy of formation of Ca(OH)2 (s)

given the following data: ΔGof [CaO (s)] = -604.0 kJ/mol;
ΔGof [H2O (l)] = -237.1 kJ/mol.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the free energy of formation of Ca(OH)2 (s).

At 298 K, the free energy of formation of Ca(OH)2 is -

898.5 kJ/mol.
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Try It!

Calculate the free energy of formation of

PCl3 (g) given the following data: ΔGof [Cl2
(g)] = 0 kJ/mol; ΔGof [PCl5 (g)] = -305.0
kJ/mol.

PCl3(g) + Cl2(g) → PCl5(g)

ΔGorxn =-37.2 kJ/mol

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change for the

combustion of 10.0 mL of cyclohexane (C6H12, MW =
84.16 g/mol, ⍴ = 0.774 g/mL) at 298 K given the
following values for standard free energy of
formation: ΔGof [C6H12 (l)] = 26.9 kJ/mol; ΔGof [O2 (g)] = 0
kJ/mol; ΔGof [CO2 (g)] = -394.4 kJ/mol; ΔGof [H2O (l)] = -
237.1 kJ/mol.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change for the

combustion of 10.0 mL of cyclohexane (C6H12, MW =
84.16 g/mol, ⍴ = 0.774 g/mL) at 298 K.

At 298 K, the standard Gibbs free energy change for

the combustion of methane is -351 kJ/mol.
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Try It!
Calculate the Gibbs free energy change
for the combustion of 25.0 mL of
acetaldehyde (CH3CHO, MW = 44.05
g/mol, ⍴ = 0.785 g/mL) at 298 K given the
following values for standard free
energy of formation: ΔGof [CH3CHO (l)] = -
128.1 kJ/mol; ΔGof [O2 (g)] = 0 kJ/mol; ΔGof
[CO2 (g)] = -394.4 kJ/mol; ΔGof [H2O (l)] = -
237.1 kJ/mol.
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 Check Your Understanding

Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write

false.

1. For a process to be spontaneous, the entropy change of

the system should always be positive.
2. The Gibbs free energy change can be calculated using
ΔH − TΔS of the system.
3. A spontaneous process will have a positive ΔG.

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 Check Your Understanding

Calculate the Gibbs free energy change in kJ/mol of the

following reactions at 298 K, given their standard free
energy of formation in the table below. Express your
answer in three significant figures.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The Gibbs free energy (G) is a thermodynamic

function that measures the amount of available
energy in a system that can be used to do work.
● The Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) for a process
at constant temperature is equivalent to
−TΔSuniverse.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The ΔG of a process can be used to determine the

spontaneity of the process.
○ A spontaneous process has a negative ΔG and
is considered an exergonic process.
○ A nonspontaneous process has a positive ΔG
and is considered an endergonic process.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The standard free energy change (ΔGo) is the

Gibbs free energy change for a process wherein
the substances involved are in their standard
states.
● The standard free energy of formation (ΔGof) is
the free energy change for the formation of a
substance from its elements in their reference
forms in the standard state.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● For free elements in their reference forms in the

standard state, ΔGof = 0.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Entropy Change
solve for the Gibbs
of the where:
free energy change
Surrounding ● ΔSsurrounding is the entropy
of a process at
change of the surrounding
constant
(J/mol K)
● ΔHsystem is the enthalpy
temperature if the
change of the system enthalpy change and
(J/mol) entropy change of
● T is the temperature (K) the process are
given.
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Gibbs Free
solve for the Gibbs
Energy where:
free energy change
Change of a ● ΔG is the Gibbs free energy
of a process at a
Process change of the process at
constant
constant temperature (kJ/mol)
● ΔHsystem is the enthalpy change of temperature if the
the system (kJ/mol) enthalpy change and
● T is the temperature (K) entropy change of
● ΔSsystem is the entropy change of the process are
the system (kJ/mol K) given.
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Gibbs
solve for the
Free where:
standard free
Energy ● ΔGo is the standard free energy change of the
process at a given temperature (kJ/mol) energy change of a
Change
● np is the coefficient of the product in the process at a specific
of a
balanced equation temperature if the
Process ● nr is the coefficient of the reactant in the
standard free
balanced equation
● ΔGfo (products) is the standard free energy of energy values of the
formation of the products (kJ/mol) reactants and
● ΔGfo (reactants) is the standard free energy of products are given. 48
Challenge Yourself

Show through calculations why the

Gibbs free energy change is zero for a
process in equilibrium.

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 Photo Credits Bibliography
Slide 2 and 3: Silver chloride (AgCl), by Luisbrudna is licensed Brown T.L. et al. Chemistry: The Central Science. Upper Saddle
under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2012.

Chang, Raymond and Kenneth A. Goldsby. Chemistry. New

York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. 2016.

Petrucci, Ralph H. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern

Applications. Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Canada. 2011.

Silberberg, Martin S. Principles of General Chemistry.

Pennsylvania State University: McGraw-Hill Higher
Education. 2007.

Whitten, Kenneth W. Chemistry, 10th ed. Boston, MA: Cengage

Learning. 2013.

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