Maximum Work

[Mark Ebaid 1L]

How are you supposed to calculate maximum work using the Gibbs free energy equation and redox potentials? Can work only be done when Gibbs free energy is negative?

[Michelle Jin 3L]

Hi! Essentially work(max) = delta G (gibbs free energy) = -qEo. A reaction can't take place/do work spontaneously when deltaG is positive, so yes only when it is negative can it do work spontaneously.

[005985221]

Regarding your question about work only being done when ΔG is negative, in the context of spontaneous processes, yes, work can typically be obtained when ΔG is negative because the reaction occurs spontaneously, releasing energy that can be harnessed to perform work. However, work can also be done on a system when ΔG is positive, but this requires an external input of energy to drive the non-spontaneous process.

[Sarah Egan 3A]

Work is only done when the Gibbs free energy change or Delta G is negative because that means there is a positive standard cell potential Delta E. This indicates a spontaneous reaction that releases energy, which can be used to do work.