Final answer:
When δesys = -314 J, the system is losing 314 J of energy and the surroundings are gaining 314 J, following the principle of energy conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If δesys = -314 J, it implies that the system is losing 314 joules of energy. Following the law of conservation of energy, if the system loses energy, the surroundings must gain an equal amount of energy to keep the total energy of the universe constant. Therefore, the correct statement is: the system is losing 314 J, while the surroundings are gaining 314 J. Additionally, entropy changes of the system (ΔSsys) and surroundings (ΔSsurr) often counterbalance each other in thermodynamically reversible processes. When the system and surroundings are at the same temperature, the entropy changes are nearly the same but of opposite sign, leading to a net zero change in the entropy of the universe (ΔSuniv).
If δesys = -314 j, it means that the system is losing 314 j of energy while the surroundings are gaining 314 j of energy. So, the correct option is: The system is losing 314 j, while the surroundings are gaining 314 j.