Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes in Chemistry

Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes

• A spontaneous process occurs without the influence of external forces and moves a system toward equilibrium.
• The reverse of any spontaneous process is non-spontaneous.
• Spontaneity does not imply anything about the speed or rate of a reaction, which is the domain of kinetics.
• Spontaneity only tells whether a reaction will happen or not, but not the rate of a process.
• Examples of spontaneous processes include the combustion of alcohol and rusting of iron, which occur at different rates.

Characteristics of Spontaneity

• Randomness influences spontaneity, often resulting in a more disordered arrangement.
• A spontaneous process can occur from an ordered state to a more random arrangement.

Examples of Spontaneous and Non-Spontaneous Processes

• Dropping a breakable object, like a beaker, is a spontaneous process, as it will occur naturally without external forces.
• The opposite process, a broken beaker reforming into its original condition and defying gravity to lift into the air, is non-spontaneous.
• Non-spontaneous processes require external forces or intervention, such as a skilled glassworker to fix a broken beaker and someone to lift it in the air.

Energy Change and Spontaneity

• The energy change in a system cannot solely determine whether a chemical reaction will occur spontaneously.