Final answer:
Entropy refers to the tendency of a closed system to become more disordered, and represents the progression of systems toward higher states of randomness as described by the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the tendency of a closed system to lose its ability to control itself, thus disintegrating or becoming more disordered, is Entropy. Entropy is a concept in thermodynamics that describes a system's progression toward a state of higher disorder or randomness.
High entropy indicates a less ordered state with more random distribution of energy. The Second Law of Thermodynamics dictates that the entropy of a closed system will not decrease; in other words, systems naturally tend toward a state of higher entropy unless energy is input to maintain or reduce it.
An everyday example of entropy can be seen in a room: if not maintained, it will naturally become more disordered over time, indicating an increase in entropy. Similarly, molecules and chemical reactions exhibit changes in entropy; for instance, as molecules at a high concentration diffuse and spread out, the entropy of the system increases.
To summarize, entropy is essentially a measure of the levels of disorder and randomness within a system, affecting everything from physical spaces to chemical reactions and is an intrinsic part of the probabilistic nature of physical laws, particularly thermodynamics. The correct option is B.