Thermodynamic Stability

Thermodynamic stability refers to how likely a substance or system is to remain in its current state without changing spontaneously. It depends on the system’s energy and entropy (disorder). A stable system has the lowest possible free energy; if a change reduces free energy, the system tends to undergo that change to reach stability. For example, a piece of iron is stable in its solid form at room temperature because it’s energetically favored over melting or rusting under those conditions. Stability indicates whether a system will stay as it is or transform into a different state spontaneously.