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Total entropy change and the condition for feasibility

  • 2 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on the entropy change of the surroundings, adding the two contributions, and the sign that makes a reaction feasible.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Numbers

How is the entropy change of the surroundings related to ΔH, what does a total entropy change of zero indicate, and why does an exothermic reaction increase the entropy of the surroundings?

Numbers

How is the total entropy change worked out, and why must ΔH be in J mol⁻¹ and the temperature in kelvin?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How is the total entropy change of a reaction worked out?

    Model answer

    ΔtotS = ΔsysS + ΔsurrS.

  2. 2

    How is the entropy change of the surroundings related to the enthalpy change?

    Model answer

    ΔsurrS = −ΔH/T, where ΔH is the enthalpy change and T is the temperature in kelvin.

  3. 3

    What condition on ΔtotS makes a reaction feasible?

    Model answer

    ΔtotS must be positive.

  4. 4

    What does a total entropy change of zero indicate?

    Model answer

    The system is at the point of balance, which corresponds to equilibrium and to the temperature at which feasibility changes over.

  5. 5

    Why does an exothermic reaction increase the entropy of the surroundings?

    Model answer

    Energy is released into the surroundings, giving their particles more energy quanta to distribute and therefore more possible arrangements.

  6. 6

    Why must an enthalpy change in kJ mol⁻¹ be converted to J mol⁻¹ before it is used in ΔsurrS = −ΔH/T?

    Model answer

    Entropy values are quoted in J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, so the enthalpy must be in joules for the two terms to be added.

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