Free Energy

In thermodynamics, entropy enjoys the status as an infallible criterion of spontaneity. The concept of entropy could be used to determine whether or not a given process would take place spontaneously. It has been found that in a natural or spontaneous process there would be an increase in the entropy of the system. This is the most general criterion of spontaneity that thermodynamics offers; however, to use this concept one must consider the entropy change in a process under the condition of constant volume and internal energy. Though infallible, entropy is thus not a very convenient criterion. There have, therefore, been attempts to find more suitable thermodynamic functions that would be of greater practical convenience and utility. This has led to the introduction of two other functions, which incorporate the entropy but are more convenient to use in many cases. In thermodynamics, entropy enjoys the status as an infallible criterion of spontaneity. The concept of entropy could be used to determine whether or not a given process would take place spontaneously. It has been found that in a natural or spontaneous process there would be an increase in the entropy of the system. This is the most general criterion of spontaneity that thermodynamics offers; however, to use this concept one must consider the entropy change in a process under the condition of constant volume and internal energy. Though infallible, entropy is thus not a very convenient criterion. There have, therefore, been attempts to find more suitable thermodynamic functions that would be of greater practical convenience and utility. This has led to the introduction of two other functions, which incorporate the entropy but are more convenient to use in many cases. In thermodynamics, entropy enjoys the status as an infallible criterion of spontaneity. The concept of entropy could be used to determine whether or not a given process would take place spontaneously. It has been found that in a natural or spontaneous process there would be an increase in the entropy of the system. This is the most general criterion of spontaneity that thermodynamics offers; however, to use this concept one must consider the entropy change in a process under the condition of constant volume and internal energy. Though infallible, entropy is thus not a very convenient criterion. There have, therefore, been attempts to find more suitable thermodynamic functions that would be of greater practical convenience and utility. This has led to the introduction of two other functions, which incorporate the entropy but are more convenient to use in many cases.