Gibbs free energy is that thermodynamic quantity of a system, the decrease in whose value during a process is equal to the maximum possible useful work that can be obtained from the system.
Mathematically, this results may be derived as follows
The relationship between heat absorbed by a system q, the change in its internal energy, and the work done by the system is given by the equation of the first law of thermodynamics, therefore,
Under constant pressure condition, the expansion work is given by ,
For a reversible change taking place at constant temperature,
Substituting the value of q from Eq. (iii) in Eq. (ii), we get
For a change taking place under conditions of constant temperature and pressure,
Substituting this value in equation (iv), we get
Thus, free energy change can be taken as a measure of work other than the work of expansion. For most changes, the work expansion can not be converted to other useful work, whereas the non-expansion work is convertible to useful work.
Rearranging equation (v), it may write as
As therefore, has the same units as those of work i.e., joule
If positive and positive, then
will be negative i.e., process will be spontaneous only when in magnitude, which will be so when temperature is high.