Spontaneous Reaction
Definition
A spontaneous reaction is one that can occur without any external input once it has started. These reactions are thermodynamically favorable and often release energy in some form.
Analogy
Consider spontaneous reactions like rolling down hill on your bike - once you start pedaling and gain momentum, you don't need any more effort; gravity does all the work for you.
Related terms
Entropy: A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. Spontaneous reactions often lead to an increase in entropy.
Gibbs Free Energy: This is a thermodynamic potential that measures the maximum reversible work that a system can perform at constant temperature and pressure. If Gibbs free energy is negative, the reaction will be spontaneous.
Exothermic Reaction: A type of chemical reaction where heat is released. Many spontaneous reactions are exothermic.
"Spontaneous Reaction" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (4)
What is the K constant of a spontaneous reaction?
What law states that the entropy of the universe increases in a spontaneous reaction?
Which of the following is true about the relationship between the energy released from a spontaneous reaction and the energy required for a non-spontaneous reaction to occur?
Which of the following is an example of a spontaneous reaction in a galvanic (voltaic) cell?
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