Synthesis and Reactions of Macromolecular Compounds

Abstract

The work, ΔF, which has to be performed in the change of a system according to the reaction A + B → C, or which has to be performed to obtain the reverse reaction, is a measure of the driving force of this reaction. A system can perform work either because its energy becomes smaller through the heat of reaction ΔH (enthalpy), or because its entropy increases by T Δ S because it goes from a less probable to a more probable state i.e., from an ordered to a disordered (or less ordered) state. If only the internal energy changes, then ΔF = ΔH; if only the entropy changes, ΔF = −T•ΔS. In a reaction if the internal energy and also the enthropy change, ΔF is equal to the sum of both, i.e., ΔF = ΔH - T•ΔS.