Question

Please explain Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Below you will find key questions.

1. Know that spontaneity is not solely dependent on the enthalpy change for a reaction or process. Some endothermic processes, like ice melting, are spontaneous under certain conditions.

2. Know that when ice melts, liquid water evaporates, or NaCl dissolves in water, the arrangement of molecules or ions becomes more disordered.

3 Define entropy in words, and know Boltzmann’s equation for entropy.

4 Know and understand the difference between a macrostate and a microstate.

5 Define and understand the second law of thermodynamics.

6 Understand the example of gas particles in connected flasks as an illustration of entropy change and number of microstates.

7 Know and rationalize the entropy changes associated with state changes.

8 Predict the sign of DS for common processes.