What exactly is entropy in the context of chemistry?

[AndresElizarraras 2A]

From my understanding, Entropy (S) is a measure of disorder in a system but is that the correct definition in the context of chemistry? What exactly do our calculations for entropy mean?

Thank you!

[Tiffany Wang 3L]

That definition is correct in the context of chemistry. I just wanted to add that entropy is the amount of energy that is unavailable to do work because work is from ordered molecules. The more disordered a system is, the less work you can do. The calculations can tell you the work lost in the system.

[Chloe Sy-Perez 1L]

Yes, entropy is the measure of disorder in a system. For instance, melting ice is an example of entropy because as the ice melts the molecules become free to move and become disordered, rather than being in a fixed and ordered state as ice. Our calculations of entropy let us determine the spontaneity of processes which is related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

[Gianna McNiel 1I]

To add on to the other responses, entropy is greatly determined by the number of possible positions molecules have in a system (degeneracy, W). If there are more positions, there is more disorder and therefore, greater entropy.

[305568482]

The way I understood it is that entropy is the measurement of disorder in a system according to the laws of thermodynamics. It is the measurement of a systems thermal energy that is unavailable for work. Additionally it usually determines the spontaneity of processes.

[Saba Honarvar 3A]

Yes, the entropy is a a measure of disorder in a system. To add on, it is also used to describe how much energy is not available to do work. SO the more disordered a system is, the higher it's entropy and less energy to do work. This is related to the second law of thermodynamics which states how the state of entropy in a isolated system will increase over time and the changes can never be negative. The calculations tell how much work is lost in the system.

[joannar]

Hi!

Yes you are correct, entropy is a measure of disorder, and with that said it also is a measure of a system's thermal energy per unit temperature that is unavailable for doing useful work. So Entropy also describes how much energy is Not available to do work. In connection to disorder, The more disordered a system and higher the entropy, the less of a system's energy is available to do work.

[Stephanie Rodas 2C]

Entropy is the amount of disordering a system, but it can also be seen as a measure of quality of energy. The higher it is, the more chaotic it is. Therefore, the lower the entropy, the better quality that it is.

[Rubani Chugh 2K]

Relating entropy to degeneracy or W, the more positions a molecule has in a system, the greater entropy (higher amount of disorder) there will be. This can be seen by the Boltzmann's equation S= KblnW.

[Mariet Garcia 1E]

Yes, your definition is correct! Think about it this way, if there is a lot of entropy that means that the system is more chaotic, so there is less energy to do work. Vice versa for when there is less entropy. I hope this helps.