Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
Exergonic:
A process such as a chemical reaction in which the
Gibbs free energy (
G
)
of the
products
is smaller than the
Gibbs free energy
of the
reactants
(i.e.,
Δ
G
< 0). Work (energy) is released into the surroundings as the reaction proceeds. Such processes are
thermodynamically spontaneous
(i.e.,
K
eq
> 0).
Energy profile
for a
concerted
exergonic reaction.
Related terms:
Endergonic
,
endothermic
,
exothermic
,
Δ
H
,
Δ
G
++
,
activation energy
,
energy of activation
,
E
a
,
E
act
,
enthalpy of formation
,
heat of formation
,
enthalpy of hydrogenation
,
heat of hydrogenation
,
enthalpy of combustion
,
heat of combustion
,
equilibrium
,
reaction coordinate
,
transition state
,
Hammond postulate
,
Hammond-Leffler postulate
,
early transition state
,
late transition state
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