Enthalpy,

Entropy, and
Free Energy
 Enthalpy
H – heat lost or absorbed
in a chemical reaction
+ H – endothermic
absorbs heat
- H – exothermic
gives off heat
 Entropy
A measure of the disorder, or
randomness, in a chemical
reaction
 Entropy and Phase
Gases – most disorder
Liquid – less disorder
Solid – little disorder
 S = Sfinal - Sinitial
We will not do calculations but just look
at signs:
+ S – products more disordered
than reactants
- S – products less disorder than
reactants
What would be the sign of S for the following:

1. Liquid water becomes solid water

Answer: Since the product is LESS
DISORDERED, the sign of S is
negative
2. Solid bromine sublimes into gaseous
bromine
Answer: Since the product is
MORE DISORDER, the sign of S
is positive
 Gibbs Free Energy
A measure that reflects the enthalpy,
entropy, and temperature of a
reaction that is used to determine
spontaneity.
- G = Spontaneous reaction
+ G = Nonspontaneous reaction
 G= H–T S
The above equation is what is used to
calculate the free energy change when
given enthalpy, temperature, and
entropy changes.

For now, we will not do calculations, but

you do need to know the equation!
 IMPORTANT
All reactions would prefer to have
LOW ENERGY (- H)
HIGH DISORDER (+ S)

Spontaneity ( G) depends on the

above two factors.
 Some scenarios:
1. A reaction results in Woo Hoo!

low energy (- H) Yeah!

high disorder (+ S)
It will always be SPONTANEOUS
because it is getting everything it
wants! So G will be negative!
2. A reaction results in
high energy (+ H)
low disorder (- S)
It will always be
NONSPONTANEOUS because it
is getting nothing it wants! So G
will be positive.
3. A reaction results in
low energy (- H)
low disorder (- S)
One is good and one is bad so
temperature is going to be
important. In order for this
reaction to be spontaneous, the
temperature will have to be LOW.
4. A reaction results in
high energy (+ H)
high disorder (+ S)
One is good and one is bad so
temperature is going to be
important. In order for this
reaction to be spontaneous, the
temperature will have to be HIGH.
 Summary of Spontaneity
Scenario H S High T Low T

1 - + Spontaneous at
all Temps!!! - G
2 + - Nonspontaneous at
all Temps!!! + G
3 NonSp! Spont!
- - + G - G
4 Spont! NonSp!
+ + - G + G
H=
H=
S=
S=
T=
T=
G=
G=