Overview
Chemical potential and Gibbs free energy are fundamental concepts in thermodynamics that help us understand how and why chemical reactions occur. Chemical potential indicates the energy change associated with adding particles to a system, while Gibbs free energy provides insight into the spontaneity...
Key Terms
Example: In a solution, the chemical potential of a solute affects its concentration.
Example: The Gibbs free energy change for a reaction can predict if it will occur spontaneously.
Example: In equilibrium, the rates of forward and reverse reactions are equal.
Example: Melting is a phase transition from solid to liquid.
Example: Combustion of gasoline is a spontaneous reaction.
Example: For the reaction A + B ⇌ C, the equilibrium constant K = [C]/([A][B]).