Question

Use a Gibbs enthalpy (energy) reaction coordinate diagram to interpret a biochemical transformation and to make predictions about whether the reaction is spontaneous or not.

Answer 1

The Gibbs free energy of a system is a measure of the amount of usable energy in that system. The change in Gibbs free energy during a reaction provides useful information about the reaction's energetics and spontaneity.

• If Delta G is negative, the process is spontaneous
• If Delta G is positive, the process is non-spontaneous but it may proceed spontaneously in the reverse direction
• If Delta G is 0, then the reaction is at equilibrium