Does the entropy of the system increase, decrease, or stay the same when (a) a solid melts, (b) a gas liquefies, or (c) a solid sublimes?

Name: Chemistry: The Central Science
Author: Brown
ISBN: 9780134414232

검증된 단계별 안내

Step 1: Understand the concept of entropy. Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In general, the more disordered a system, the higher its entropy.

Step 2: Analyze the process of a solid melting. When a solid melts, it transitions from a highly ordered state (solid) to a less ordered state (liquid). This increase in disorder means the entropy of the system increases.

Step 3: Examine the process of a gas liquefying. When a gas condenses into a liquid, it goes from a less ordered state (gas) to a more ordered state (liquid). This decrease in disorder means the entropy of the system decreases.

Step 4: Consider the process of a solid subliming. Sublimation is the transition from a solid directly to a gas. This process involves moving from a highly ordered state (solid) to a very disordered state (gas), resulting in an increase in entropy.

Step 5: Summarize the changes in entropy for each process: (a) Melting increases entropy, (b) Liquefying decreases entropy, and (c) Subliming increases entropy.

주요 개념

질문에 올바르게 답하기 위해 반드시 이해해야 하는 핵심 개념들은 다음과 같습니다.

Entropy

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. It quantifies the number of possible arrangements of particles in a system, with higher entropy indicating greater disorder. In thermodynamics, processes that increase the number of accessible microstates typically lead to an increase in entropy.

Phase Changes

Phase changes refer to the transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states of matter. Each phase has distinct properties and energy levels. During these transitions, such as melting or sublimation, the arrangement and energy of particles change, which directly affects the entropy of the system.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that in any energy transfer or transformation, the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. This principle implies that natural processes tend to move towards a state of greater disorder, influencing how we understand the changes in entropy during phase transitions.