Questions: Explain in your own words the difference between a spontaneous reaction and one that occurs instantaneously.

Transcript text: Explain in your own words the difference between a spontaneous reaction and one that occurs instantaneously.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding Spontaneous Reactions

A spontaneous reaction is one that occurs without needing to be driven by an external force. It is characterized by a release of free energy, typically moving the system to a more stable state. This means that the reaction is thermodynamically favorable, often associated with a negative change in Gibbs free energy (\(\Delta G < 0\)).

Step 2: Understanding Instantaneous Reactions

An instantaneous reaction, on the other hand, refers to the speed at which a reaction occurs. These reactions happen very quickly, often with a sudden release of energy. The term "instantaneous" is more about the kinetics of the reaction rather than its thermodynamic favorability.

Step 3: Analyzing the Options

Option (A): Correctly describes a spontaneous reaction as one that releases free energy and moves to a more stable state, and an instantaneous reaction as one that occurs rapidly with a sudden release of energy.
Option (B): Incorrectly states that a spontaneous reaction utilizes free energy.
Option (C): Incorrectly states that an instantaneous reaction involves the uptake of energy.
Option (D): Incorrectly describes a spontaneous reaction as occurring rapidly and an instantaneous reaction as releasing free energy.

Final Answer

The correct answer is \(\boxed{\text{A}}\).

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