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Homework Help: Gibbs free energy from partial pressures

  1. Apr 13, 2012 #1
    Consider the following reaction:
    CH3OH(g) <-> CO(g)+2H2(g)

    Calculate ΔG for this reaction at 298 K under the following conditions:

    2. Relevant equations
    where R is the gas constant 8.314 J/molK, T is 298 in this case, and K is determined from the partial pressures.

    3. The attempt at a solution
    I calculated K by (0.2002)(0.115)/0.895 and found it to be 0.00514.
    This produced deltaG=-8.314*298*ln(0.00514)=-13.1 kJ, but this is incorrect according to the website. I'm really not sure what is going wrong; this is my last attempt on any of the pressure problems on this homework, so I'd like to get this figured out. My guess right now is that it's related to the # of moles not being used (as R suggests), but I'd appreciate input before I use my last attempt, especially so it's drilled into my brain after this assignment.

    Thanks for any help!
  2. jcsd
  3. Nov 12, 2017 #2
    The consistency in units is often the case

    Since the problem doesn't give Delta G naught, we calculate Delta G reaction assuming the reaction is at equilibrium (ΔG = 0)
    ΔG° reaction (kJ) = - R (J/°K.mol) x T(°K) x ln (Pp/Pr)​

    In this case, convert R = 8.314x10-3 (kJ/°K.mol)
  4. Nov 13, 2017 #3


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    Science Advisor

    You neglected the minus sign. (Clue: if K < 1, ΔG0 must be positive.) Is +13.1 kJ/mol correct, according to your website?
  5. Nov 16, 2017 #4


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    The use of °K instead of K was discouraged in 1967.

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