Factors Affecting Entropy

[Hellen Truong 2J]

So I know that physical states (gas>liquid>solid) affect entropy and molecular size affect entropy (larger means more entropy), but which has more of an effect? As in would a heavy liquid or a light gas have more entropy?

[Sarah_Stay_1D]

So I know that physical states (gas>liquid>solid) affect entropy and molecular size affect entropy (larger means more entropy), but which has more of an effect? As in would a heavy liquid or a light gas have more entropy?

A gas will always have a higher entropy than liquid because the difference in entropy for a gas is so much greater than that of a liquid. Also, molecular complexity is a factor. the more electrons and/or atoms a molecule is, the higher its entropy will be.

[Luis De La Cruz 1H]

Given that a gas just has that many more possible micro states (the particles that make up the gas) that it can be in due to the very nature of gases (particles that are essentially free flowing), it will basically always have a higher entropy than liquids, because the particles in a liquid will still be bound together by albeit weak bonds, which therefore limits the possible micro states that those liquid particles can be in.

[YashDeshmukh1D]

In terms of the complexity of molecules, would a more complex molecule (with more electrons) have higher entropy than a number of smaller molecules (who, in their more numerous state, have more possible arrangements)?

[Mika Sonnleitner 1A]

The state of the molecule matters more than the weight. So, when you are comparing entropies, you would first look at gas vs. liquid etc., and then if they are in the same phase, then you would calculate the molar mass. Whichever molecule is heavier has the higher entropy.