Question

Which process will decrease entropy?

Which process will decrease entropy?

BaCO₃(s) → BaO(s) + CO₂(g)

SO₂(l) → SO₂(g)

2Cl₂O(g) → 2Cl₂(g) + O₂(g)

N₂(g) → N₂(l)

Answer 1

BaCO3(s) → BaO(s) + CO2(g)

The entropy will increase because there is formation of gaseous product CO2 along with solid BaO from solid starting BaCO3.

SO2(l) → SO2(g)

The entropy will increase because there is formation of gaseous product SO2 from liquid SO2.

2Cl2O(g) → 2Cl2(g) + O2(g)

Again the entropy will increase because there is formation of two gaseous product Cl2 (two moles) along with O2 (one mole) from 2 moles of gaseous Cl2O.

N2(g) → N2(l)

Only in this case entropy will decreas because the reactant N2 is in gaseous state (high entropy) which converts in liquid N2 (lower entropy).