In: Chemistry
What does it mean that it's thermodynamically favorable or unfavorable? I am not sure.
The reaction is considered to be thermodynamically favoured when it proceeds in the forward direction leading to the formation of products .
In such a case to determine whether or not , the reaction is favourable , one needs to know the gibbs free energy change.
If the free energy of the products is less than that of the reactants such that the free energy change is negative , the reaction moves to the forward direction leading to the formation of products. But if the free energy change is positive , that means products have higher free energy than that of reactants , then the reaction is not thermodynamically stable.