free energy
"Free energy" is essential in understanding the work potential of systems in thermodynamics, chemistry, and physics, often represented by Gibbs and Helmholtz forms.
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Definition
C1Thermodynamics
(technical)The portion of a system's energy that can be converted into work under specific conditions.
Example
- The free energy of a system helps determine the spontaneity of a chemical reaction.
C2Thermodynamics
(technical)A measure of the maximum work a system can perform at constant temperature and pressure, represented by Gibbs free energy.
Example
- Gibbs free energy is used to predict whether a reaction will occur spontaneously.
C2Thermodynamics
(technical)A measure of the useful work obtainable from a system at constant temperature and volume, represented by Helmholtz free energy.
Example
- Helmholtz free energy is useful in understanding processes that occur at constant volume.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "free energy":
free variablezero-point energyunavailable energykinetic energydriving forcethermal energydegree of freedomfree space