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An italic capital G, deciding whether a reaction proceeds.
Also known as: Gibbs energy, Free enthalpy, Gibbs function
Sometimes confused with: Free energy
The sign of the Gibbs energy change decides whether a process happens spontaneously at constant temperature and pressure — negative means yes. It says nothing whatever about how fast, which is the confusion that makes people expect diamond to turn into graphite overnight.
Denotes the Gibbs energy, enthalpy minus temperature times entropy.
Contexts: Laboratory
Is negative for a spontaneous process at constant temperature and pressure, which is the standard criterion for chemical feasibility.
Contexts: Laboratory
Says nothing about reaction rate: a strongly favourable Gibbs change can correspond to a reaction that never observably occurs.
Contexts: Laboratory
An italic capital letter G, a circle open at the right with a short horizontal bar turning inward.