Skip to content
Chemical Sciences
Physical Chemistry
1876
Intermediate

Gibbs Free Energy

ΔG=ΔH−TΔS\Delta G = \Delta H - T\Delta S

Spontaneity of a process depends on enthalpy change minus temperature times entropy change.

By Josiah Willard Gibbs

Chemical Sciences
Gibbs Free Energy
1876 · Josiah Willard Gibbs
Why it matters: Predicts which reactions occur spontaneously—foundation of chemistry and biochemistry.

Discoverers: Josiah Willard Gibbs (1876)

What does it mean?

Spontaneity of a process depends on enthalpy change minus temperature times entropy change.

Why should I care?

Predicts which reactions occur spontaneously—foundation of chemistry and biochemistry.

Variables & Units

SymbolNameUnitMeaning
ΔGΔGGibbs energyJ/molFree energy change
ΔHΔHEnthalpy—Heat content change
ΔSΔSEntropy—Disorder change
TTTemperatureKAbsolute temperature

Worked Example

ΔG < 0 → spontaneous; ΔG = 0 → equilibrium.

AI Guide (Pro)

Ask questions about equations and get answers grounded in the Equation Universe catalog.

Upgrade to ProTry demo (7 days)

Sources & further reading

Search WikipediaSearch Wolfram MathWorldOpen in Wolfram|AlphaWatch explainers on YouTube

Share this equation

Equation Universe

Gibbs Free Energy

ΔG=ΔH−TΔS\Delta G = \Delta H - T\Delta S

Real-world impact

Life sciences

Mathematical models drive medicine and biotech.

Photo: Unsplash — laboratory

Spontaneity of a process depends on enthalpy change minus temperature times entropy change.

equation-universe.vercel.app

Post