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Temperature and Spontaneity

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:10 pm
by Lisa Tang 1C
Is it true that when H and S are both negative that decreasing the temperature increases spontaneity? If so, could someone explain why this is the case? I know it has to do with the equation G=H-TS, but beyond the math, what is the explanation?

Re: Temperature and Spontaneity

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:26 pm
by Katie Lam 1B
If both delta H and delta S are negative, the reaction is only spontaneous at low temperatures since the T delta S part of the equation will be overall positive. In order for a reaction to be spontaneous, then, the negative delta H needs to be of larger magnitude than the positive T delta S so that delta G is negative.

Re: Temperature and Spontaneity

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:53 pm
by Jessica Benitez 1K
The chart we went over in lecture goes:
Delta S (+) and Delta H (-) means spontaneous at all temperatures
Delta S (+) and Delta H (+) means spontaneous at high temperatures
Delta S (-) and Delta H (-) means spontaneous at low temperatures
Delta S (-) and Delta H (+) means not spontaneous at any temperatures, however, the reverse process is spontaneous