Question

What is the criterion of the feasibility of a reaction at any temperature?

(a) ΔG of the reaction must be positive

(b) ΔG of the reaction must be negative

(c) ΔG of the reaction must be equal to zero

(d) Does not depend on ΔG of the reaction

The question was posed to me during an online interview.

This interesting question is from Thermodynamic Principles of Metallurgy in division General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct answer is (b) ΔG of the reaction must be negative

Easiest explanation: The criterion of the feasibility of a reaction at any temperature is that the ΔG of the reaction must be negative. For a reaction to be spontaneous, the value of the change in Gibbs energy of the reaction must always be negative.