Identify the compound with the highest entropy.
a. solid ice
b. room temperature water
c. gaseous water
d. frozen water
Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. Generally, the higher the number of possible arrangements or states a system can have, the higher its entropy.
To determine the compound with the highest entropy among the given options, we need to consider the states of matter and the number of microstates associated with each state.
a. Solid ice: At a molecular level, solid ice consists of a highly ordered arrangement of water molecules in a crystalline structure. The molecules are closely packed, and their movement is restricted. Since there are limited arrangements or states available in a solid, it has a lower entropy compared to other states.
b. Room temperature water: In its liquid form, water molecules are more mobile compared to the solid state. The molecules can move around, rotate, and interact more freely. As a result, there are more possible arrangements within a liquid, increasing the entropy compared to the solid state.
c. Gaseous water: Water in its gaseous state, such as steam or water vapor, has the highest entropy among the given options. In the gas phase, water molecules have the most freedom of movement and are not bound by any specific arrangement. They move independently and in random directions, leading to a highly disordered state with the highest number of possible arrangements or microstates.
d. Frozen water: Frozen water is another term for solid ice, which we have already discussed. Its entropy is lower compared to liquid water or gaseous water due to its highly ordered structure.
Therefore, the compound with the highest entropy among the given options is c. gaseous water.