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Gibbs free energy

physics
Also known as: Gibbs function

Quick Summary

Gibbs free energy, symbolized as G, is a thermodynamic potential used to describe open systems that exchange heat and work with their environment. It is particularly useful for processes occurring at constant temperature and pressure, such as chemical reactions.12

The change in Gibbs free energy (\u0394G) indicates the spontaneity of a process. If \u0394G is negative, the process occurs spontaneously. If \u0394G is positive, the process is not spontaneous. When \u0394G is zero, the system is at equilibrium. This concept is named after American physicist Josiah Willard Gibbs.23

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