NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Energetics: Entropy

JC1 2014

Section A: Review Questions

1.

Reverse osmosis is a method of obtaining pure water from sea water or polluted water, now
being used in Singapore and other countries. The process works by applying a constant pressure
to a sample of impure water next to a semi-permeable membrane.

The semi-permeable membrane only allows small molecules such as water through, but keeps
back all other molecules and ions.
The enthalpy change of dilution of NaCl (aq), i.e. H for the process
NaCl (aq, conc) + nH2O (l) NaCl (aq, dil)
is very small, and can be considered as being zero.
What are the correct signs of S and G for the reverse osmosis process?
S
G
A

+
C
+

D
+
+
2.

When water freezes, 6.0 kJ mol1 of heat enthalpy is evolved.

What is the entropy change when 54 g of water freezes at 0 oC?
Note: when freezing takes place G = 0 i.e. the solid is in equilibrium with the liquid
A
B
C
D

3.

66 JK1
22 JK1
22 JK1
66 JK1

When steam condenses, 44 kJ mol1 of heat enthalpy is evolved.

What is the entropy change when 54 g of steam condenses at 100oC?
A
B
C
D

354 J K1 mol1
118 J K1 mol1
118 J K1 mol1
354 J K1 mol1

Note: when condensation takes place G = 0 i.e. the gas is in equilibrium with the liquid

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NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

4.

Energetics: Entropy

JC1 2014

At temperatures below 13 C, shiny, ductile metallic tin, known as 'white tin', changes slowly into
a grey powder which is brittle.
Data for each form of tin are given in the table.

white
grey

Hf/kJ mol1

S/ JK1 mol1

0
2.09

51.4
44.1

What is the expression for G, in J mol1 for the formation of grey tin from white tin at 12 oC?

5.

G = 2.09 285 (7.3)

G = 2.09 12 (+7.3)

G = 2090 12 (+7.3)

G = 2090 285 (7.3)

Solutes dissolve in solvents to form solutions. If a semi-permeable membrane, that allows solvent
molecules to pass through it, is placed between a pure solvent and a solution containing a solute
in that solvent, pure solvent only will go through the membrane into the solution. This process is
called osmosis.
In which processes will S be positive?
1 dissolving the solute in a solvent
2 the evaporation of the solvent from the solution
3 the passage of the solvent through a semi-permeable membrane during osmosis

6.

Predict the changes in entropy (S) for the following reactions. Support your answer with a
suitable explanation.

(a)

NaNO3(s) NaNO2(s) + O2(g)

S > 0
O2 (g) is produced, There are more ways of arranging the particles in the gas than in the
solid. Hence, the entropy of the system increases.

(b)

2Pb(NO3)2(s) 2PbO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)

S > 0
O2 (g) and NO2 (g) are produced.
There are more ways of arranging the particles in the gaseous state than in the solid
state. Hence, the entropy of the system increases.

(c)

Na(s) + Cl2(g) NaCl(s)

S < 0
A gas reactant is consumed to produce a solid as product.
There are less ways of arranging the particles in the solid state than in the gaseous
state. Hence, the entropy of the system decreases.

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NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

(d)

2+

Energetics: Entropy

JC1 2014

Ca (aq) + CO3 (aq) CaCO3(s)

S < 0
There are less ways of arranging the particles in the solid state than in the aqueous
state.
Hence, the entropy of the system decreases.

(e)

Mg(s) + ZnO(s) MgO(s) + Zn(s)

S 0
Since the change is from solid states to solid states and
the stoichiometric amount produced also remains the same as the amount of reactants
used.
The number of ways of arranging the particles in the system is almost the same.
Hence, the entropy of the system is almost the same.

Section B: Structured Questions

7.
For the reaction:
MgO(s) Mg(s) + O2(g)
(a)

H = + 602 kJmol1 S = + 109 JK1mol1

Given both H and S of the system, is it possible to predict whether the reaction is feasible or
not? Explain your reasoning.
Both H
 and S
 are both positive.
And since G = H TS, G is temperature dependent,
It will be negative (i.e. reaction is feasible) at high temperature conditions and
positive (i.e. not feasible) at low temperature conditions.
Hence depending on the temperature conditions, it may or may not be feasible.

(b)

Calculate G at
i.
1000 K
ii.
6000 K
What assumption have you made in your calculation? At which temperature is the reaction
feasible?
i.

Assuming MgO does not change its state whether at 1000K or 6000K, H and S
are assumed to be the same at both temperatures,
G1000K

= H T
S
= 602 (1000)(109/1000)
= + 493 kJmol1

Since G > 0 at 1000 K, the reaction is not feasible.

ii.

Assuming MgO does not change its state whether at 1000K or 6000K, H and S
are assumed to be the same at both temperatures,
G6000K

= H T
S
= 602 (6000)(109/1000)

= 52.0 kJmol1
Since G < 0 at 6000 K, the reaction is feasible.
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NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

(c)

JC1 2014

At which temperature does the reaction becomes feasible i.e. G = 0?

= H T
S
= 602 T(109/1000)
= 5523 K

G
0
T
8.

Energetics: Entropy

For the synthesis of ammonia at 300 K,

N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)

H = 92 kJmol1

G = 33 kJmol1

Assuming that H and S do not change with temperature, calculate G at 750 K.

At T = 300 K,
G300K

= H T
S

33

= 92 (300) S

= 0.197 kJ K1 mol1
= 197 J K1 mol1

Note:
There is a decrease in the total number of molecules in the system (i.e. 4 mol of gaseous
reactants form 2 mol of products).
The decrease in the total number of molecules in the system leads to a decrease in the
number of ways to arrange the molecules, giving rise to a lesser disorder. Hence, the entropy
of the system decreases. i.e. S became negative.]
G750K

= H T
S
= 92 (750)(197/1000)
= + 55.8 kJmol1

[Note: This reaction is not feasible at higher temperatures (of 750K) but feasible at lower
temperatures of (300K). This is in accordance with Le Chateliers principle.]
9.

For the following processes,

i.
ii.

(a)

NaCl(l) NaCl(s)
i.

ii.
(b)

predict the signs of H and S (positive or negative) and

state whether you expect the reaction to be feasible at high, low or all temperatures.
H < 0: The mobile ions in the liquid state form strong ionic bonds. Heat is evolved
in the process.
S < 0: There are less ways of arranging the ions in the solid than in the liquid
state. Hence, the entropy of the system decreases.
The reaction is feasible at low temperature.

Ag+(aq) + Cl(aq) AgCl(s)

i.

ii.
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H < 0: The mobile ions in the aqueous state form strong ionic bonds. Heat is
evolved in the process.
S < 0: There are less ways of arranging the ions in the solid than in the aqueous
state. Hence, the entropy of the system decreases.
The reaction is feasible at low temperature.

NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

(c)

Energetics: Entropy

JC1 2014

C2H4(g) + H2(g) C2H6(g)

H

H
C

C
H

H < 0: This process involves the breaking of weaker bond in C2H4 and forming 2

i.

stronger bonds (C
H) in C2H6. Hence, energy is evolved.
H = +610 + 436 + 2(
410) + (
350) = 124 kJmol1
S < 0: There is a decrease in the total number of gas particles in the system.
There are less ways of arranging the particles in the system. Hence, there entropy of
the system decreases.
The reaction is feasible at low temperature.

ii.
(d)

complete combustion of propane in oxygen

C3H8 (g) + 5O2 (g) 3CO2 (g) + 4H2O (g)

+ 5 O

3 O

+ 4
H

i.

H = 8(+410) + 2(350) + 5(496) + 3(2)(

740) + 4(2)(
460) = 1660 kJmol1
Hence, H < 0.

ii.
(e)

S > 0: There is an increase in the total number of gas particles in the system.
There are more ways of arranging the particles in the system. Hence, there entropy
of the system increases.
The reaction is feasible at all temperature.

C8H18(g) C6H14(g) + C2H4(g)

i.

H > 0: This process involves the breaking of the stronger bond (C

C) in C8H18 to
form the weaker bond in C2H4. Hence, energy is absorbed.
H = 2(350) + (
610) = + 90 kJmol1

ii.
(f)

S > 0: There is an increase in the total number of gas particles in the system.
There are more ways of arranging the particles in the system. Hence, there entropy
of the system increases.
The reaction is feasible at high temperature.

Ba(NO3)2(s) BaO(s) + O2(g) + 2NO2(g)

i.

H > 0: This is a decomposition process. The energy required to break the

relatively strong bonds is not compensated by the energy released from the
formation of fewer or weaker bonds.
(In the absence of data, students are not expected to deduce the sign for this H)

ii.
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S > 0: There are more ways of arranging the particles in the gas than in the solid.
Hence, the entropy of the system increases.
The reaction is feasible at high temperature.

NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

(g)

ii.

(b)

JC1 2014

LiCl(s) + aq Li (aq) + Cl (aq)

i.

10.
(a)

Energetics: Entropy

H < 0: The enthalpy change of hydration evolved when the ions form ion-dipole
interactions with the water molecules is able to compensate the energy absorbed in
breaking the ionic bonds.
S > 0: There are more ways of arranging the particles in the aqueous state than in
the solid. Hence, the entropy of the system increases.
The reaction is feasible at all temperature.

Explain what is meant by the term entropy of a chemical system.

Entropy, S, is a measure of the randomness or disorder of a system.
Describe and explain how the entropy of each of the following systems will change during the
stated process. Assume the pressure of each system remains at 1atm throughout.
i.
1 mol of C/2 (g) at 298 K is added to 1mol of N2 (g) at 298 K.
S is positive / entropy increases because there is mixing of gaseous particles, there
are more ways of arranging the particles hence a higher state of disorder in the
system.
ii.

1 mol of C/2 (g) at 298K is heated to 373K.

S is positive / entropy increases as the system possess more kinetic energy. This
implies that there are more ways to distribute the energy among the particles giving
rise to greater disorder.

Examiners Report
It is NOT enough to state there is an increase in KE. The increase in entropy comes about because
in the broadening of the Boltzmann energy distribution as there are more ways of arranging energy
quanta in the hotter gas.
iii.

1 mol of C/2 (g) at 298K is reacted with iodine according to the following equation.
C/2 (g) + I2 (s) ICI3 (I)
S is negative / entropy decreases as there is a decrease in number of gaseous
particles, thus less ways of arranging the particles hence a lower state of disorder.

iv.

1 mol of C/2 (g) at 1000K is photolysed according to the following equation.

C/2 (g) 2Cl* (g)
S is positive / entropy increases as there is an increase in number of gaseous
particles, leading to more ways of arranging the particles hence a higher state of
disorder in the system [1]

Be very careful with your terms used

Entropy S: use increases or decreases
Entropy change S: use positive or negative.

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