Question

In a spontaneous process, ______.

A) the reverse process is also spontaneous
B) The path between reactants and products is irreversible
C) The path between reactants and products is reversible
D) the reverse process occurs at a higher rate than the forward process
E) forward and reverse processes occur at the same rate

Answer 1

A spontaneous process is characterized by its ability to occur without external energy input and the tendency to be irreversible, meaning the path from reactants to products cannot spontaneously reverse.The correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a spontaneous process, several key characteristics define its nature. According to the second law of thermodynamics, spontaneous processes tend to occur in one direction and are often irreversible under a given set of conditions. An example of this would be the natural melting of ice at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, whereas the reverse process (water freezing) does not occur spontaneously under the same conditions.

The essence of a spontaneous reaction lies in its ability to proceed without the continual input of energy from an external source, and such processes are typically irreversible. This means that the path from reactants to products does not reverse spontaneously. Therefore, in the context of the provided multiple-choice question on the nature of a spontaneous process:

In a spontaneous process, B) The path between reactants and products is irreversible.