What is the relationship between temperature and Gibbs free energy?

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SUMMARY

The relationship between temperature and Gibbs free energy is defined by the equation ΔG = ΔH - TΔS. In endothermic reactions with a positive ΔSsystem, spontaneity increases at higher temperatures due to the TΔS term outweighing the enthalpy term, resulting in a negative ΔG. However, the discussion highlights that ΔH = -TΔSsurr assumes a large heat bath, making ΔH effectively constant with temperature, while ΔG's sign remains unchanged regardless of temperature variations if both ΔSsurr and ΔSsystem are constant. This indicates that temperature cannot alter the spontaneity of a reaction once ΔG is established.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamics concepts, specifically Gibbs free energy
  • Familiarity with the equations ΔG = ΔH - TΔS and ΔH = -TΔSsurr
  • Knowledge of endothermic and exothermic reactions
  • Basic grasp of entropy and its role in spontaneity
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of temperature on Gibbs free energy in various chemical reactions
  • Learn about the concept of heat baths and their effect on thermodynamic equations
  • Explore the conditions for spontaneity in chemical reactions using the Gibbs free energy equation
  • Investigate the relationship between entropy and enthalpy in thermodynamic processes
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, researchers in thermodynamics, and professionals involved in chemical engineering or physical chemistry will benefit from this discussion.

Ahmed Abdullah
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\Delta G = \Delta H - T \Delta S

I don't understand this equation satisfactorily.
I have learned so far that endothermic reaction having a positive \Delta S_{system} is spontaneous at higher temperature because T\Delta S out-compete the enthalpy term and make the free energy change negative.
But I don't understand why T\Delta S _{sorrounding} should not increase with temperature as T\Delta S _{system} does.
Clearly \Delta H =-T\Delta S _{sorrounding}
so we can rewrite the gibbs free energy equation
\Delta G= -T\Delta S _{sorrounding} - T\Delta S _{system}
\Delta G = -T ( \Delta S _{sorrounding} + \Delta S _{system})

if \Delta S _{sorrounding} and \Delta S _{system} both are constant then the sign of \Delta G is independent of temperature. If \Delta G is positive increasing temperature just make it more positive and If \Delta G is negative increasing temperature just make it more negative. Temperature cannot change the sign.
I know I must be missing something. Please help!

A^{ }_{A}
 
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When you use the equation to describe isolated system you don't have to worry about the rest of the Universe.
 
Borek said:
When you use the equation to describe isolated system you don't have to worry about the rest of the Universe.

But I need to know why?
Isn't Del H = -T*Del S (sorrounding)? Clearly it is a function of T, then why it would be unaltered by temperature {but T*Del S (system) is altered}?
 
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Ahmed Abdullah said:
Clearly \Delta H = -T\DeltaS^{ }_{sorrounding}

Not clearly. That equation only holds if you have a very large heat bath surrounding the system with the same temperature T, so that all heat transfer is reversible. It's important to make this distinction.

But that is a side point. The key issue is this: if you're writing \Delta H=T\Delta S^\mathrm{surr}, you're already assuming that the reaction is spontaneous; otherwise energy would not be transferred. And when you write \Delta G= -T\Delta S^\mathrm{surr} - T\Delta S^\mathrm{sys}, you're assuming that it's barely spontaneous, that \Delta G=0. Otherwise more energy would be present from the spontaneous forward reaction.

So you can no longer vary T and ask whether the reaction is spontaneous!
 

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