Chemistry / Unit 11 Chem 2069 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Entropy as a Microstate-Counted State Function
Captions available
The idea
Entropy is a state function, per Chem 0675, and counts the microstates consistent with a system's current condition, rising whenever that count rises.
In practice
A gas expanding into a larger volume gains far more particle positions, so its entropy rises.
Where people slip
Entropy is not energy despite its joule units, and no single particle "has" entropy.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Unlocks
- 2071Twin: Entropy Is Not Disorder
- 2074Entropy Rises with Accessible Microstates
- 2077Entropy Trend Across Phases
- 2080Entropy Rises with Temperature
- 2083Entropy Rises with Molecular Complexity
- 2084Entropy Rises with Mixing
- 2090The Second Law of Thermodynamics
- 2093The Third Law of Thermodynamics
- 2103Gibbs Free Energy Defined
- 2124ΔG as a Path-Independent State Function
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry