Question

Suppose an ideal gas undergoes isobaric (constant pressure) compression)

which expression about the entropy of the environment and the gas is correct?
∆S > 0 ∆S + ∆S > 0 ∆ Seny + ∆S = 0

Answer 1

The correct expression about the entropy of the environment and the gas for an isobaric compression of an ideal gas is ∆S + ∆Senv > 0, where ∆S is the change in entropy of the gas and ∆Senv is the change in entropy of the environment.

• During an isobaric compression, work is done on the gas to decrease its volume while the pressure remains constant. This leads to an increase in the temperature of the gas, which in turn leads to an increase in its entropy. However, the compression process also results in an increase in the entropy of the environment due to the release of heat.

Thus, the total change in entropy of the system (gas) and the environment is positive, which is expressed as ∆S + ∆Senv > 0. The other options given (∆S > 0 and ∆S + ∆Seny = 0) are not correct for an isobaric compression process.