Chemistry / Unit 11 Chem 2077 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Entropy Trend Across Phases
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The idea
For a given substance, gas-phase entropy exceeds liquid-phase entropy, which exceeds solid-phase entropy, since particle positions become progressively less constrained.
In practice
Water vapor has higher entropy than liquid water, which has higher entropy than ice, all at the same substance and comparable conditions.
Where people slip
Mass alone does not set this ranking — phase constrains available microstates far more than a molecule's size does.
Your place on the trail
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