Question

question 4 (4 points)
which one of the following processes produces a decrease in the entropy of the system?
a) freezing of fe(l) into fe(s)
b) evaporation of liquid ethanol into gaseous ethanol
c) dissolution of lioh(s) in water

Explanation:

To determine which process decreases entropy, we analyze the disorder (entropy) of states:

• Option a: Freezing \( \text{Fe}(l) \) to \( \text{Fe}(s) \) changes from a liquid (more disordered) to a solid (less disordered). Solids have lower entropy than liquids, so this process decreases entropy.
• Option b: Evaporation of liquid ethanol to gas increases disorder (gases have higher entropy than liquids), so entropy increases.
• Option c: Dissolving \( \text{LiOH}(s) \) in water breaks the solid into ions, increasing disorder (entropy increases).
• Option d (partially visible, but melting ice to water changes solid to liquid, increasing disorder (entropy increases)).

Only option a involves a transition to a more ordered state (solid), reducing entropy.

Answer:

a) freezing of Fe(l) into Fe(s)