[Chemistry 2] Questions

[lzxnl]

I don't really know what entropy is either...I have a very vague idea of it...

[Ballerina]

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable by Muse explains it well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_xdvn52As

"All natural and technological processes proceed in such a way that the availability of the remaining energy decreases.
In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves an isolated system, the entropy of that system increases.

Energy continuously flows from being concentrated, to becoming dispersed, spread out, wasted. Useless.

New energy cannot be created and high grade energy is being destroyed. An economy based on endless growth is...

Unsustainable."

[lzxnl]

I get that bit of entropy, but what the heck do the calculations of entropy mean...does a positive standard molar entropy suggest that energy is becoming more spread out?

[Ballerina]

I can't find a Muse song that explains that.

(But yes, it pretty much does. A positive value means entropy has occurred through a spontaneous reaction, and entropy causes molecules to spread out, diffuse, lose order. Compare an organized ionic lattice to the chaotic spread of gaseous atoms.)

[lzxnl]

It's easy to see when it's as blatant as that, but gas-phase reactions? When we have the same number of gas particles on each side? Entropy confuses me.

[hobbitle]

Haha Ballerina you make me laugh

[Ballerina]

There's entropy in seemingly perfect lattices too. Entropy is difficult to grasp conceptually.

[scribble]

that song confirms it. entropy is too intense for me. cant handle it. im not cut out for this

[LeviLamp]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy
Me 'ead, good lord D;

[scribble]

that rudolf guy has a cool beard. wish i had a cool beard </3

[lzxnl]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy
Me 'ead, good lord D;

LOL. Wiki is no good to explain such difficult concepts for some poor guy like me