Free-Energy Calculations are Dependent on the Rates of the Reactions

Question

Free-energy calculations are dependent on the rates of the reactions.

Accepted Answer

Free-energy calculations are dependent on the thermodynamics of the reactions, not the rates of the reactions. The rate of a reaction is the speed at which it occurs, while the thermodynamics of a reaction deals with the energy changes that occur in a reaction, specifically the change in free energy (ΔG) between the reactants and products. Free-energy calculations are based on the thermodynamics of a reaction, not its kinetics.