What is a spontaneous reaction?

Short Answer

Expert verified

A spontaneous reaction happens naturally and without the requirement for energy from an outside source.

Step by step solution

01

Definition for spontaneous reaction.

A spontaneous reaction is a reaction that occurs naturally, normally, that is without a need for a constant input of energy from the environment.

02

How Spontaneous Reaction happens.

A spontaneous reaction is one during which the assembly of products is favoured under the conditions of the reaction. Because it's exothermic, a roaring campfire could be an example of a spontaneous reaction.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Although the gas used in the oxyacetylene torch Figure (5.7) is essentially pure acetylene, the heat produced by the combustion of one mole ofacetylene in such a torch is likely, not equal to the enthalpy of combustion of acetylene listed in the table 5.2. Considering the conditions for which the tabulated data are reported. Suggest an explanation.

Is the formation of ozone \(\left( {{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{3}}}{\bf{(g)}}} \right)\) from oxygen \(\left( {{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}}} \right)\) spontaneous at room temperature under standard state conditions?

Calculate ΔG° using

(a) free energies of formation and

(b) enthalpies of formation and entropies(Appendix G). Do the results indicate the reaction to be spontaneous or nonspontaneous at 25 °C?

\({{\bf{C}}_{\bf{2}}}{{\bf{H}}_{\bf{4}}}{\bf{(g)}} \to {{\bf{H}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g) + }}{{\bf{C}}_{\bf{2}}}{{\bf{H}}_{\bf{4}}}{\bf{(g)}}\)

Popular chemical hand warmers generate heat by the air-oxidation of iron:\({\bf{4Fe(s) + 3}}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}} \to {\bf{2F}}{{\bf{e}}_{\bf{2}}}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{3}}}{\bf{(s)}}\).How does the spontaneity of this process depend upon temperature?

What happens to \({\bf{\Delta G}}_{{\bf{298}}}^{\bf{^\circ }}\) (becomes more negative or more positive) for the following chemical reactions when the partial pressure of oxygen is increased?

(a) \({\bf{S(s) + }}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}} \to {\bf{S}}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}}\)

(b) \({\bf{2S}}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g) + }}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}} \to {\bf{S}}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{3}}}{\bf{(g)}}\)

(c) \({\bf{HgO(s)}} \to {\bf{Hg(l) + }}{{\bf{O}}_{\bf{2}}}{\bf{(g)}}\)

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