Rubber Bands, Free Energy, and Le Châtelier's Principle
Warren Hirsch · Journal of Chemical Education · 2002
The following simple classroom activity illustrates the relationship of entropy to molecular disorder in polymer chains. It also deals with free energy, the Gibbs equation, spontaneous versus non-spontaneous processes, Le Châtelier's principle, and the interplay of intermolecular forces and enthalpy. It is suitable for an advanced high school or college-level general chemistry course.