Gibbs Free Energy

$\Delta G^{\circ}= \Delta H^{\circ} - T \Delta S^{\circ}$

$\Delta G^{\circ}= -RT\ln K$

$\Delta G^{\circ}= \sum \Delta G_{f}^{\circ}(products) - \sum \Delta G_{f}^{\circ}(reactants)$

Alyssa Besser 3B
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Gibbs Free Energy

Why is Gibbs Free Energy a state function? Wouldn't the energy that is readily available be important to know throughout the process and not just at the initial and final states?

Shailyn_Moore_3C
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:59 pm

Re: Gibbs Free Energy

Since Gibbs Free Energy is what is used to figure out spontaneity it doesn't need to be known throughout the process. The change in Gibbs Free Energy just has to be negative to be spontaneous and that is the biggest utilization of this concept. So it is only final and the initial states that matter not the path it took

Eunnie_Lee_3H
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Re: Gibbs Free Energy

Also, Gibbs free energy isn't something that we can directly measure. It's defined by other measurements that happen to be state functions (if you take a look at the equation, it uses things like enthalpy and entropy, which are state functions). So, I suppose it just ends up being a state function.