Final answer:
The formula ΔG = ΔH - TΔS is used to calculate the Gibbs free energy change, which indicates the spontaneity of a chemical process. It incorporates the change in enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) at a given temperature (T).
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula ΔG = ΔH - TΔS is used to determine the Gibbs free energy change of a system. This equation takes into account the total energy change of the system, known as enthalpy (ΔH), and the energy that is lost to entropy (ΔS), at a constant absolute temperature (T, in Kelvin). The term ΔG represents the change in Gibbs free energy and is a key factor in predicting whether a chemical reaction will occur spontaneously. A negative ΔG indicates a spontaneous process, while a positive ΔG suggests a non-spontaneous process. In the equation, T represents the absolute temperature, and S is the entropy. Enthalpy is a measure of the total energy of a thermodynamic system, and entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system.