Multiple Choice
According to the second law of thermodynamics, what is the natural tendency for the entropy of an isolated system to do over time?
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19. Chemical Thermodynamics
Entropy
Multiple Choice
Which state of matter generally has the lowest entropy under the same temperature and pressure conditions?
A
Solid
B
Plasma
C
Liquid
D
Gas
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of entropy: Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. The higher the entropy, the more disordered the system is.
Recall the general order of entropy for the three common states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) at the same temperature and pressure: solids have the lowest entropy, liquids have higher entropy than solids, and gases have the highest entropy.
Consider why solids have the lowest entropy: In solids, particles are tightly packed in a fixed, orderly arrangement, which limits their movement and results in low randomness.
Compare this to liquids and gases: Liquids have more freedom of movement than solids, increasing entropy, while gases have particles moving freely and randomly, leading to the highest entropy.
Conclude that under the same temperature and pressure conditions, solids generally have the lowest entropy among the states of matter.
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