9.23 Determining what has higher entropy state

[Emily Mei 1B]

Which would you expect to have a higher molar entropy at T = 0, single crystals of BF3 or of COF2? Why?
I don't really understand the explanation at the back of the book for this one.

[Mitch Mologne 1A]

Because there are only F atoms around the B, there is no variability in how the molecule is structured. However, with COF2, the Oxygen atom can be in one of three places, which causes a higher molar entropy.

[Riya Pathare 2E]

Generally when the molecule tends to be more complex like the COF2 molecule it will have a higher entropy because of the different micro states there are.

[Katie Lam 1B]

Because COF2 has more microstates, its degeneracy is higher. The different atoms in COF2 can take more positions than the identical atoms in BF3 so it is at a higher entropy state.

[Cassidy 1G]

I have a follow up question to this... are we saying the three F atoms in BF3 can only be in one set position/they are not interchangeable? It seems like they would still be able to move into different positions.