Final answer:
Dehydration synthesis can be spontaneous or non-spontaneous depending on conditions such as temperature and pressure, and the Gibbs free energy (ΔG).
Step-by-step explanation:
Dehydration synthesis is a type of chemical reaction where water is removed to link two molecules together. Whether dehydration synthesis is spontaneous or non-spontaneous depends on the specific conditions, including the temperature, pressure, and the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) for the reaction. For a reaction to be spontaneous, ΔG must be negative.
In many biological systems, dehydration synthesis often occurs with the help of enzymes, which lower the activation energy and drive reactions that may not be spontaneous under standard conditions.
The overall spontaneity of such reactions, including dehydration synthesis, is determined by both enthalpy changes (ΔH, heat absorbed or released) and entropy changes (ΔS, measure of disorder) as described by the Gibbs free energy equation: ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, where T is the temperature.
If the process leads to a negative ΔG, it will be spontaneous under those conditions. It's also important to note that in cells, conditions are rarely standard, and other factors can push the reaction to occur, making dehydration synthesis part of vital metabolic pathways despite not being spontaneous under standard conditions.