spontaneity

[Ruiting Jia 4D]

I'm still unsure on how to visualize spontaneity if it doesn't mean that it happens immediately. Is there a good visual on how to describe spontaneity?

[Raquel Ruiz 1K]

Spontaneity just means that a chemical process can happen without a major outside force acting on the chemical reaction. There are two outside forces, I believe they are enthalpy and entropy.

[MichaelMoreno2G]

Spontaneity just means that a chemical process can happen without a major outside force acting on the chemical reaction. There are two outside forces, I believe they are enthalpy and entropy.

If there are no major outside forces, as you say, then the only forces acting/producing the spontaneous reaction are enthalpy and entropy? I'm a little confused. If you can clarify that would be greatly appreciated.

[Srikar_Ramshetty 1K]

Yes, the only 2 forces are enthalpy and entropy, these values are true to the chemicals within the reaction, already. That is why the values of H(rxn) and S(rxn) are products minus reactants. External energy would be heat or work done on the system in order for the reaction to favor the production of products. Therefore, we see the equation deltaU = q+w. A spontaneous reaction is a reaction that favors the production of products without changes in externally introduced energy(q and w). Hope that helps a litlle.