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📘 About the Gibbs Free Energy
Gibbs free energy tells you whether a reaction can happen on its own at a given temperature. If ΔG = ΔH − TΔS is negative the reaction is spontaneous; if it is positive it is not; if it is zero the system is at equilibrium.
Enter the enthalpy change in kJ/mol, the entropy change in J/(mol·K) and the temperature. Using standard values (ΔH°, ΔS°) also gives the equilibrium constant from ΔG° = −RT ln K. The defaults are for the Haber process, N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃.
🧮 Formula
Spontaneous means thermodynamically possible, not fast. Diamond turning into graphite is spontaneous but takes millions of years.
✏️ Worked examples
Haber process at 25 °C
You get| ΔG (kJ/mol) | -32.9576 |
| Equilibrium constant K | 594,184 |
| Temperature (K) | 298.15 |
ΔG = -32.9576 kJ/mol, so making ammonia is spontaneous at room temperature.
Try this example →Haber process at 500 °C
You get| ΔG (kJ/mol) | 61.4249 |
| Equilibrium constant K | 7.08214e-5 |
| Temperature (K) | 773.15 |
At 500 °C, ΔG = 61.4249 kJ/mol: the reaction is no longer spontaneous, which is why a balance of temperature and pressure is used.
Try this example →🧭 How to use this calculator
What you enter
- Enthalpy change (ΔH) (kJ/mol)
- Entropy change (ΔS) (J/(mol·K))Note: J, not kJ.
- Temperature (T) (°C)
What you get
- ΔG (kJ/mol)
- Equilibrium constant K
- Temperature (K)
💡 Effect of ΔH and ΔS on spontaneity
- ΔH negative, ΔS positive: spontaneous at all temperatures.
- ΔH positive, ΔS negative: never spontaneous.
- ΔH negative, ΔS negative: spontaneous at low temperatures (below ΔH/ΔS).
- ΔH positive, ΔS positive: spontaneous at high temperatures (above ΔH/ΔS).
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for Gibbs free energy?
When is a reaction spontaneous?
Why divide ΔS by 1000?
ΔH is usually in kJ/mol and ΔS in J/(mol·K), so ΔS must be converted to kJ to match.
How is ΔG related to the equilibrium constant?
ΔG° = −RT ln K. A negative ΔG° gives K > 1, favouring products.