Final answer:
When a system's Gibbs energy decreases, energy is released as the system moves towards a more stable and energetically favorable state, and the entropy generally increases unless compensated by other changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a system moves towards a lower Gibbs energy, energy is typically released. This transition implies that the system is going towards a more stable and energetically favorable state. According to the second law of thermodynamics, for spontaneous processes, the total entropy of a system either increases or remains constant. However, for the specific case of Gibbs energy, a decrease in Gibbs free energy in a system implies that the process is spontaneous, and the energy released can do work. This release of energy can manifest in various forms such as heat or light.
The entropy, a measure of disorder or randomness, typically increases when a system undergoes a spontaneous change unless it is compensated by changes in other terms like temperature or pressure. When the Gibbs energy decreases, and if the system is isolated, not at equilibrium, and not at absolute zero, entropy generally increases. Moreover, energy input into a living system can decrease entropy within the system as it fuels catabolic reactions, which organize the system.