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Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics
Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 15th Edition
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 19, Problem 25c

Indicate whether each statement is true or false. (c) In a certain spontaneous process the system undergoes an entropy change of 4.2 J/K; therefore, the entropy change of the surroundings must be -4.2 J/K.

Verified step by step guidance
1
insert step 1> Understand the concept of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system, and the second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.
insert step 2> Recognize that in a spontaneous process, the total entropy change (ΔS_total) of the universe (system + surroundings) must be greater than zero.
insert step 3> Identify that the given problem states the system undergoes an entropy change (ΔS_system) of 4.2 J/K.
insert step 4> Recall that the entropy change of the surroundings (ΔS_surroundings) is related to the heat exchange with the system and can be calculated using the formula ΔS_surroundings = -ΔS_system if the process is isothermal and reversible.
insert step 5> Evaluate whether the given statement that ΔS_surroundings must be -4.2 J/K is consistent with the requirement that ΔS_total = ΔS_system + ΔS_surroundings > 0 for a spontaneous process.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Entropy

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In thermodynamics, it quantifies the number of microscopic configurations that correspond to a thermodynamic system's macroscopic state. A positive change in entropy indicates an increase in disorder, while a negative change suggests a decrease. Understanding entropy is crucial for analyzing spontaneous processes, as they tend to favor states of higher entropy.
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Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that in any spontaneous process, the total entropy of an isolated system will always increase over time. This law implies that energy transformations are not 100% efficient, and some energy is always lost as heat, contributing to the overall increase in entropy. It also establishes the relationship between the entropy changes of the system and its surroundings, which is essential for evaluating the truth of statements regarding entropy changes.
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Second Law of Thermodynamics Example

Entropy Change of the Surroundings

The entropy change of the surroundings is related to the heat exchanged with the system during a process. For a spontaneous process, the total change in entropy (system plus surroundings) must be positive. If a system experiences an entropy change of +4.2 J/K, the surroundings must experience a corresponding change that ensures the total entropy increases, which may not necessarily be -4.2 J/K, depending on the heat exchange and the nature of the process.
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The normal boiling point of Br2(𝑙) is 58.8 °C, and its molar enthalpy of vaporization is Δ𝐻vap=29.6kJ/mol. (b) Calculate the value of Δ𝑆 when 1.00 mol of Br2(𝑙) is vaporized at 58.8 °C.

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Textbook Question

The element gallium (Ga) freezes at 29.8 °C, and its molar enthalpy of fusion is ΔHfus = 5.59 kJ/mol. (a) When molten gallium solidifies to Ga(s) at its normal melting point, is ΔS positive or negative?

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Textbook Question

The element gallium (Ga) freezes at 29.8 °C, and its molar enthalpy of fusion is ΔHfus = 5.59 kJ/mol. (b) Calculate the value of ΔS when 60.0 g of Ga(l) solidifies at 29.8 °C.

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Textbook Question

(a) What sign for Δ𝑆 do you expect when the pressure on 0.600 mol of an ideal gas at 350 K is increased isothermally from an initial pressure of 0.750 atm?

(b) If the final pressure on the gas is 1.20 atm, calculate the entropy change for the process.

(c) Which of the following statements about this process are true? (i) The entropy change you calculated will be the same for at any other constant temperature. (ii) The value of Δ𝑆 you calculated is valid only if the compression is done irreversibly. (iii) If the number of moles of gas being compressed were decreased by a factor of three, the entropy change would increase by a factor of three.

Textbook Question

(c) During a certain reversible process, the surroundings undergo an entropy change, ΔSsurr = -78 J/K. What is the entropy change of the system for this process?

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Textbook Question

(a) Does the entropy of the surroundings increase for spontaneous processes?

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