Why are standard free energies of formation zero for elements in their stablest form?

[Harjas Sabharwal 1G]

I understand that ΔH⁰_f is 0 for an element in its standard state.
But then by using the equation ΔG⁰_f = ΔH⁰_f - TΔS⁰_f, shouldn't ΔG⁰_f have some other value than 0? because elements in there standard states do have some ΔS⁰_f value.
Ex: ΔG⁰_f = 0 - (298K)ΔS⁰_f ≠ 0

[Michelle Chernyak 1J]

It is favorable for a substance to be at its most stable state, therefore when a substance reaches that, it is going to want to maintain that most stable state. This means that it wont spontaneously progress in either direction, it will just stay in its current form.

Hope that helps!

[Austin Ho 1E]

The principle is that ΔG°= 0 for elements because we think about the reaction of their formation. For an element like Carbon, its formation reaction would simply be:

C(s) -> C(s). Since both sides are identical (Carbon is identical to itself), they must both have the same ΔG°. Therefore, ΔG° for the reaction is 0 since there is literally no difference between the products and reactants. This is why ΔG°f for elements is 0.