Classical thermodynamics, heat transfer Thermodynamic potentials and relations Concept
Gibbs free energy
Summary
The Gibbs free energy of a system is its enthalpy minus the product of its temperature and entropy. It is the thermodynamic potential whose natural variables are temperature and pressure. At fixed temperature and pressure it is minimal in equilibrium. So a process at fixed temperature and pressure can run by itself only if it lowers the Gibbs free energy. This makes it the central quantity of chemical thermodynamics and of phase equilibria.
Where this leads
17 pages build on this one.
- Gibbs–Helmholtz equation
- Bridgman's thermodynamic equations
- Gibbs–Duhem equation
- Nernst heat theorem
- Henry's law
- Unattainability principle
- Euler relation for internal energy
- Ehrenfest equations
- Third law of thermodynamics
- Thermodynamic square
- Maxwell relations
- Van 't Hoff equation
- Chemical equilibrium
- Law of mass action
- Phase transition
- Legendre transformation of thermodynamic potentials
- Chemical potential
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | RBG5ZBM35Y |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://RBG5ZBM35Y |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 80A10, 80A05 |
| Specializes | Thermodynamic potential |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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Used by
- Gibbs–Helmholtz equation
- Bridgman's thermodynamic equations
- Nernst heat theorem
- Euler relation for internal energy
- Thermodynamic square
- Maxwell relations
- Chemical equilibrium
- Law of mass action
- Phase transition
- Legendre transformation of thermodynamic potentials
- Chemical potential