Final answer:
In an exothermic reaction, the entropy change of the system is negative and the entropy change of the surroundings is positive. Therefore, the correct answer is option 2) negative, positive.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an exothermic reaction, the system undergoes a transformation releasing heat to the surroundings. This transfer of thermal energy has implications for entropy changes within the system and its surroundings. The second law of thermodynamics asserts that the total entropy of an isolated system tends to increase over time, promoting disorder and randomness. In the case of an exothermic reaction, the system experiences a negative entropy change as it sheds heat.
Simultaneously, the surroundings gain heat, resulting in a positive entropy change for this external region. This dichotomy in entropy alterations aligns with the fundamental thermodynamic principle: as heat disperses from a system, disorder within the surroundings escalates.
Consequently, the correct characterization of entropy changes for an exothermic reaction is a negative entropy change for the system and a positive entropy change for the surroundings, elucidating the intricate interplay between energy transfer and entropy dynamics.