Final answer:
The standard entropy of a reaction is a constant at a specific temperature due to the definition of standard entropy, the state function nature of entropy, the independence of the Boltzmann distribution on time at a constant temperature, and the experimental determination of standard entropy values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The standard entropy of a reaction is a constant at a specific temperature for the following reasons:
- The definition of standard entropy involves a reference state at a specific temperature. This means that the standard entropy values are determined based on a specific set of conditions, including temperature.
- Entropy is a state function, which means that its value is only dependent on the initial and final states, not the path taken to reach those states. Therefore, the entropy change in a reaction is independent of the pathway and remains constant at a specific temperature.
- The Boltzmann distribution of microstates becomes independent of time at a constant temperature. This means that the distribution of energy and the number of possible microstates become constant, leading to a constant value of entropy at a specific temperature.
- The standard entropy is determined experimentally at a specific temperature. This involves careful calorimetric measurements that allow for the determination of absolute entropy values under specific conditions.