Chemistry / Chem 2063 · Atom · ~20 seconds

Twin: Spontaneous Does Not Mean Fast

Video not yet published
to the StudyWalks catalog

State

A spontaneous process can proceed at any rate, since spontaneity names direction while rate is a separate kinetic question, Unit 9's domain.

Show

Diamond's conversion to graphite is spontaneous at room pressure, yet too slow to observe in a human lifetime.

Watch for

Calling a slow spontaneous process "not really happening" confuses thermodynamics with kinetics.