Question

Consider the following processes. Which entropy will increase as the process proceeds from left to right? Select all correct answers.

1. Melting of ice
2. Condensation of steam
3. Freezing of water
4. Evaporation of liquid

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 4
c) 3 and 4
d) 1 and 3

Answer 1

The processes that lead to an increase in entropy are the melting of ice and the evaporation of liquid, as they involve transitions to more disordered states.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which processes lead to an increase in entropy, we need to consider the state changes involved, as well as the physical nature of entropy as the measure of disorder or randomness in a system. For process 1, the melting of ice involves a phase change from solid to liquid, which leads to an increase in entropy as the molecules in liquid water are more disordered than in solid ice. Moreover, process 4, the evaporation of liquid, also leads to an increase in entropy since the transition from liquid to gas introduces even greater disorder due to the molecules spreading out and moving freely in the gas phase. Conversely, process 2, the condensation of steam from gas to liquid, results in a decrease in entropy due to decreased randomness as the gas molecules become more ordered in the liquid state. Similarly, process 3, the freezing of water, will also result in decreased entropy as liquid water transitions to the more ordered solid state of ice. Therefore, the processes that will lead to an increase in entropy as they proceed from left to right are the melting of ice and the evaporation of liquid, corresponding to answers a) 1 and 4.