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.

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.