2.1.3

Entropy (A2 Only)

Test yourself

Entropy

Entropy is a measure of disorder. Entropy always increases during a reaction.

Illustrative background for EntropyIllustrative background for Entropy ?? "content

Entropy

  • ΔH is not enough to determine whether or not a reaction happens.
    • When NaCl dissolves, the reaction is endothermic - but it still happens!
Illustrative background for StabilityIllustrative background for Stability ?? "content

Stability

  • Substances are more stable when they have greater disorder.
  • This means that everything tends to increase its disorder.
    • This is why your phone cables get tangled in your pocket!
    • It’s also why NaCl dissolves in water - it's entropy increases.
Illustrative background for Technical definitionIllustrative background for Technical definition ?? "content

Technical definition

  • Entropy is technically defined as the number of ways molecules can be arranged, and the number of ways their energy can be arranged between them.
  • Entropy is given the symbol S.
    • A big and positive value of S indicates a large disorder.

Factors Affecting Entropy

Entropy is affected by many factors, including temperature, physical state and number of moles.

Illustrative background for TemperatureIllustrative background for Temperature ?? "content

Temperature

  • An increase in temperature increases the speed particles move at. This increases disorder and so entropy increases.
Illustrative background for Physical stateIllustrative background for Physical state ?? "content

Physical state

  • The molecules in gases are free to move. This means that they have a higher entropy than solids and liquids.
  • In the same way, liquids have higher entropy than solids.
Illustrative background for Number of molesIllustrative background for Number of moles ?? "content

Number of moles

  • There are more ways you can arrange ten particles than two particles. So the more moles of substance, the greater the entropy.
Illustrative background for Conditions for a reactionIllustrative background for Conditions for a reaction ?? "content

Conditions for a reaction

  • This all means that a reaction is more likely to happen if:
    • The reaction increases the number of moles of substance.
    • The reaction produces gas and consumes solids.
    • The reaction is exothermic.

Entropy Calculations

You need to be able to calculate entropy changes.

Illustrative background for Standard entropiesIllustrative background for Standard entropies ?? "content

Standard entropies

  • Over time, chemists have developed a table of entropies of hundreds of molecules and elements. These entropies are all measured under standard conditions:
    • 1atm pressure.
    • 298K temperature.
  • To calculate the entropy change, you must find the difference between the standard entropies of the products and the reactants.
Illustrative background for Example - the Haber processIllustrative background for Example - the Haber process ?? "content

Example - the Haber process

  • The equation for the Haber process is:
    • N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⇆ 2NH3(g)
  • If the entropy of nitrogen and ammonia gas is 192JK-1mol-1 and the entropy of hydrogen gas is 131JK-1mol-1, what is the entropy change?
    • Entropy change = (2 x 192) - (3 x 131) − 192 = −201JK-1mol-1
  • This fits well with the observation that the Haber process doesn’t produce much ammonia!

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atomic Structure

1.1.1Fundamental Particles

1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number

1.1.3Mass Spectrometry

1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals

1.1.5Electron Configuration

1.1.6Ionisation Energy

1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies

1.1.8Trends of Ionisation

1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure

1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure

1.2Amount of Substance

1.2.1Relative Masses

1.2.2The Mole

1.2.3The Ideal Gas Equation

1.2.4Empirical & Molecular Formulae

1.2.5Balanced Equations

1.2.6Percentage Yield

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Percentage Yield

1.2.8Atom Economy

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance

1.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Substances & Yield

1.3Bonding

1.3.1Ionic Bonding

1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding

1.3.3Carbon Structures

1.3.4Metallic Bonding

1.3.5Physical Properties

1.3.6Shapes of Molecules

1.3.7Polarity

1.3.8Intermolecular Forces

1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding

1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules

1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding

1.4Energetics

1.4.1Enthalpy Changes

1.4.2Calorimetry

1.4.3Hess' Law

1.4.4Bond Enthalpies

1.4.5End of Topic Test - Energetics

1.5Kinetics

1.5.1Collision Theory

1.5.2Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution

1.5.3Increasing Rates

1.5.4End of Topic Test - Kinetics

1.6Equilibria

1.6.1Le Chatelier

1.6.2Equilibrium Constants

1.6.3A-A* (AO3/4) - Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria

1.6.4End of Topic Test - Equilibria

1.7Redox

1.7.1Redox

1.7.2End of Topic Test - Redox

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)

2.1.1Born-Haber Cycles (A2 Only)

2.1.2Born-Haber Cycle Calculations (A2 Only)

2.1.3Entropy (A2 Only)

2.1.4Free Energy (A2 Only)

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Thermodynamics

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Thermodynamics

2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)

2.2.1Rate Equations (A2 Only)

2.2.2Rate Equations 2 (A2 Only)

2.2.3The Arrhenius Equation (A2 Only)

2.2.4Experimental Methods for Rates (A2 Only)

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Rate Equations

2.2.6Exam-Style Question - Rates

2.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Rate Equations

2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)

2.3.1Properties of Kp (A2 Only)

2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)

2.4.1Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)

2.4.2Electrochemical Series (A2 Only)

2.4.3Commercial Application (A2 Only)

2.4.4End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry

2.4.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Electrochemical Cells

2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.2pH (A2 Only)

2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)

2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)

2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)

2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)

2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases

2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids

2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases

3Inorganic Chemistry

3.1Periodicity & Trends

3.1.1The Periodic Table

3.1.2Trends in the Periodic Table

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Periodicity & Trends

3.2Group 2

3.2.1Group 2 Chemistry

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Group 2

3.3Group 7

3.3.1Introduction to Halogens

3.3.2Reactions of Halogens

3.3.3Chlorine & Chlorate(I)

3.3.4End of Topic Test - Group 7

3.3.5Exam-Style Question - Group 7

3.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Periodicity, Group 2 & 7

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)

4.1.1Period 3 Elements & Oxides (A2 Only)

4.1.2Period 3 Oxides (A2 Only)

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Period 3

4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)

4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)

4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)

4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)

4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)

4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)

4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)

4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)

4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)

4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals

4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals

4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)

4.3.1Acidity (A2 Only)

4.3.2Identification (A2 Only)

4.3.3End of Topic Test - Reactions of Ions in Solution

5Organic Chemistry 1

5.1Introduction

5.1.1Naming Conventions

5.1.2Mechanism

5.1.3Isomerism

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Introduction to Organic Chem

5.2Alkanes

5.2.1Fractional Distillation

5.2.2Cracking

5.2.3Combustion

5.2.4Chlorination

5.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes

5.3Halogenoalkanes

5.3.1Substitution Reactions

5.3.2Elimination Reactions

5.3.3Ozone Depletion

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Halogenoalkanes

5.4Alkenes

5.4.1Introduction to Alkenes

5.4.2Reactions of Alkenes

5.4.3Polymerisation Reactions

5.4.4Properties of Polymers

5.4.5End of Topic Test - Alkenes

5.5Alcohols

5.5.1Production of Alcohols

5.5.2Oxidation of Alcohols

5.5.3Oxidation of Alcohols - 2

5.5.4Elimination Reactions

5.5.5End of Topic Test - Alcohols

5.5.6Exam-Style Question - Alcohols

5.6Organic Analysis

5.6.1Reactions

5.6.2Reactions 2

5.6.3Mass Spectrometry

5.6.4Infrared Spectroscopy

5.6.5End of Topic Test - Organic Analysis

5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1

5.7.1A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.1.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.1.2End of Topic Test - Optical Isomerism

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.2.1Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.2.2End of Topic Test - Aldehydes & Ketones

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.3.1Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.3.2Acylation (A2 Only)

6.3.3End of Topic Test - Carboxylic Acids & Esters

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.4.1Structure & Reactivity (A2 Only)

6.4.2Reactions of Benzene (A2 Only)

6.4.3End of Topic Test - Aromatic Chemistry

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.5.1Nature & Preparation of Amines (A2 Only)

6.5.2Basicity & Nucleophilicity (A2 Only)

6.5.3End of Topic Test - Amines

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.6.1Condensation Polymers (A2 Only)

6.6.2Biodegradability (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.7.1Amino Acids (A2 Only)

6.7.2Proteins (A2 Only)

6.7.3DNA (A2 Only)

6.7.4Anti-Cancer Drugs (A2 Only)

6.7.5End of Topic Test - Biological Organic

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.8.1Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.8.2Examples of Synthetic Routes (A2 Only)

6.8.3End of Topic Test - Polymers & Organic Synthesis

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.9.1Understanding NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.2Carbon-13 NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.3Hydrogen-1 NMR (A2 Only)

6.9.4Hydrogen-1 NMR 2 (A2 Only)

6.9.5End of Topic Test - NMR

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.1Overview of Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.2Thin-Layer Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.3Column Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.4Gas Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.10.5End of Topic Test - Chromatography

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

6.11.1A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson

Born-Haber Cycle Calculations (A2 Only)

Free Energy (A2 Only)