Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Entropy (ΔS)
Entropy, denoted as ΔS, is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In chemical reactions, an increase in the number of gas molecules typically leads to an increase in entropy, while a decrease in the number of gas molecules can result in a decrease in entropy. Understanding how the states of matter and the number of particles change during a reaction is crucial for predicting the sign of ΔS.
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Entropy in Thermodynamics
States of Matter
The states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—play a significant role in determining the entropy of a system. Solids have a fixed structure and lower entropy, while gases have more freedom of movement and higher entropy. In the given reaction, the transition from solid KClO3 to gaseous O2 indicates a change in the state of matter that affects the overall disorder of the system.
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Chemical Reaction Stoichiometry
Chemical reaction stoichiometry involves the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. In the provided reaction, the stoichiometry shows that 2 moles of solid KClO3 produce 3 moles of gaseous O2 and 2 moles of solid KCl. This increase in the number of gaseous products relative to the reactants suggests an increase in entropy, which is essential for determining the sign of ΔS.
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