Thermodynamic Favorability
Definition
Thermodynamic favorability refers to the likelihood of a reaction occurring based on its change in Gibbs free energy. If the change is negative, the reaction is thermodynamically favorable and will occur spontaneously.
Analogy
Think of thermodynamic favorability like going downhill on a bike. It's easier and more likely for you to ride down (negative change) than it is for you to ride up (positive change). The steeper the hill (the more negative the Gibbs free energy), the faster and more likely you are to go down.
Related terms
Gibbs Free Energy: This is the energy in a system that can be used to do work, excluding the work done by pressure-volume changes.
Entropy: A measure of disorder or randomness in a system. In general, reactions where entropy increases are more likely to be thermodynamically favorable.
Enthalpy: The heat content of a system at constant pressure. Reactions that release heat (exothermic reactions) often have negative enthalpy changes and are typically thermodynamically favorable.
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