Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 40m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 37m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 7m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood1h 22m
18. The Heart1h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance Coming soon
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity Coming soon

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Chemical Reactions

Anatomy & Physiology

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Chemical Reactions

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Problem 4

Textbook Question

What factors determine whether a chemical reaction is spontaneous or not?

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the concept of Gibbs Free Energy (G) which is used to determine the spontaneity of a chemical reaction.

Understand that a reaction is spontaneous if the change in Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG) is negative.

Recall the formula for Gibbs Free Energy: ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, where ΔH is the change in enthalpy, T is the temperature in Kelvin, and ΔS is the change in entropy.

Analyze how the signs and magnitudes of ΔH and ΔS, along with the temperature, affect ΔG. For example, a negative ΔH and a positive ΔS generally favor spontaneity.

Consider the role of temperature: At high temperatures, the TΔS term becomes more significant, potentially making a reaction spontaneous if ΔS is positive, even if ΔH is positive.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Gibbs Free Energy

Gibbs Free Energy (G) is a thermodynamic potential that helps predict the spontaneity of a chemical reaction. A reaction is spontaneous if the change in Gibbs Free Energy (ΔG) is negative, indicating that the process can occur without external energy input. The relationship between enthalpy, entropy, and temperature is crucial, as ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, where ΔH is the change in enthalpy and ΔS is the change in entropy.

Entropy

Entropy (S) is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In the context of chemical reactions, an increase in entropy often favors spontaneity, as systems tend to evolve towards greater disorder. The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time, which plays a key role in determining whether a reaction will occur spontaneously.

Enthalpy

Enthalpy (H) is a measure of the total heat content of a system and is important in assessing the energy changes during a chemical reaction. A reaction is exothermic (releases heat) if ΔH is negative, which can contribute to spontaneity. Conversely, endothermic reactions (positive ΔH) may still be spontaneous if the increase in entropy is sufficient to make ΔG negative, highlighting the interplay between enthalpy and entropy in determining reaction spontaneity.

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