156k views
5 votes
An increase in disorder

a) Is found in every exergonic process
b) Is characteristic of a system increasing in enthalpy
c) Is required for a process to be spontaneous
d) Results in a decrease in entropy

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Spontaneous processes result in increased total entropy of a system. An increase in disorder, or entropy, is found in every exergonic process. For example, the dissolution of salt in water is a spontaneous process that increases the entropy of the system. Option a is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement for the second law of thermodynamics is that All the spontaneous processes result in increased total entropy of a system. Entropy is a measure of disorder and randomness in a system. In any spontaneous process, the overall entropy of the system and its surroundings always increases.

An increase in disorder, or an increase in entropy, is found in every exergonic process. An exergonic process releases energy and is characterized by a decrease in free energy and an increase in entropy.

For example, the dissolution of salt in water is a spontaneous process in which the entropy of the system increases. When salt dissolves in water, the salt crystals break apart and mix with the water molecules, leading to a more disordered and random arrangement of molecules.

User Alex Yakunin
by
7.8k points