Final answer:
The true statement about the ΔUsys and ΔUsurr is D. ΔUsys = -ΔUsurr, meaning the change in energy of the system is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to that of the surroundings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which statement is true about the ΔUsys and ΔUsurr? The correct answer is D. ΔUsys = -ΔUsurr.
The change in energy of a system (ΔUsys) is identical in magnitude but opposite in sign to the change in energy of its surroundings (ΔUsurr). This is because energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred between the system and its surroundings. The tendency of all systems is to move toward the state with the lowest possible energy, which often implies an energy transfer that affects both the system and the surroundings equally yet oppositely.