Question

Which of the following processes are spontaneous?

1) A satellite falls to earth.
2) Water decomposes to H₂ and O₂ at 298 K and 1 atm.
3) Average car prices increase.

Answer 1

A satellite falling to Earth is spontaneous. Water decomposing and average car prices increasing are nonspontaneous processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

A spontaneous process is one that occurs naturally under certain conditions, while a nonspontaneous process requires continuous input of energy from an external source. Let's analyze each process:

1. (1) A satellite falls to earth: This process is spontaneous as gravity pulls the satellite towards the Earth.
2. (2) Water decomposes to H₂ and O₂ at 298 K and 1 atm: This process is nonspontaneous since it requires energy input to break the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
3. (3) Average car prices increase: This process is not related to chemical reactions but rather to economic factors, and it is not spontaneous as it often involves external interventions and market dynamics.