Engineering English
Gibbs Free Energy
Chemical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic potential that measures the maximum reversible work that can be performed by a system at constant temperature and pressure. It indicates the spontaneity of a process.
Example in context
“The change in Gibbs free energy determines whether the chemical reaction will proceed spontaneously under the given conditions.”
“Gibbs serbest enerjisindeki değişim, kimyasal reaksiyonun verilen koşullar altında kendiliğinden ilerleyip ilerlemeyeceğini belirler.”
Where engineers use it
Gibbs free energy is central to chemical reaction equilibrium, phase stability, and electrochemical cell potential. Engineers calculate ΔG to evaluate reaction feasibility and to design equilibrium-limited processes.
Synonyms: Gibbs energy, free enthalpy
Practice: can you use “Gibbs Free Energy” at work?
Evaluate a proposed chemical reaction at 500 K and 1 atm. Calculate the standard Gibbs free energy change using thermodynamic data to determine if the reaction is spontaneous.
Show a model answer
“The Gibbs free energy change indicates the reaction's driving force.”
“Gibbs Free Energy” in 21 languages
| English | Gibbs Free Energy |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Gibbs serbest enerjisi |
| French | énergie libre de Gibbs |
| German | Gibbs-Energie |
| Spanish | energía libre de Gibbs |
| Chinese | 吉布斯自由能 |
| Arabic | طاقة غيبس الحرة |
| Portuguese | energia livre de Gibbs |
| Russian | свободная энергия Гиббса |
| Japanese | ギブス自由エネルギー |
| Italian | energia libera di Gibbs |
| Vietnamese | năng lượng tự do Gibbs |
| Hindi | गिब्स मुक्त ऊर्जा |
| Thai | พลังงานอิสระกินส์ |
| Indonesian | energi bebas Gibbs |
| Korean | 깁스 자유 에너지 |
| Bengali | গিবস মুক্ত শক্তি |
| Dutch | vrije energie van Gibbs |
| Swedish | Gibbs fria energi |
| Finnish | Gibbsin vapaa energia |
| Ukrainian | вільна енергія Гіббса |
Frequently asked questions
What does Gibbs Free Energy mean in engineering?
Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic potential that measures the maximum reversible work that can be performed by a system at constant temperature and pressure. It indicates the spontaneity of a process. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Gibbs Free Energy?
Gibbs Free Energy is pronounced /ɡɪbz friː ˈɛnərdʒi/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Gibbs Free Energy used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The change in Gibbs free energy determines whether the chemical reaction will proceed spontaneously under the given conditions.”
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