Calculating Disorder based on molecule size

[Anna Lockhart 2B]

Is it fair to say that larger molecules will always have more disorder than smaller ones?

[Blake Ballew 1H]

Yeah I think that is the general assumption that this class wants us to believe as the larger the molecule, the more ways it can move around in space and the more disorder that is therefore created.

[Winzel Payumo 1B]

Yes, since larger molecules have a greater number of combinations for their atoms to arrange themselves, which results to greater entropy! :)

[Kelly Ha 1K]

Yes, larger and more complex molecules have more disorder since there is a greater number of possible microstates/positions available.

[Kyle_Lee_2B]

it is safe to say larger molecules have more disorder, but always be careful. you should always check its lewis structure. also, single elements are more disorderly if they are bigger with more electrons/protons/neutrons

[Madeline Ogden 3B]

This is generally the right case due to positional disorder. Because the molecule is bigger, there is a greater amount of micro states available and therefore a greater amount of disorder can be achieved.

[Eileen Quach Dis 2A]

Yes because they have more subatomic particles which means that they have a higher degeneracy, and therefore a higher entropy.

[Hope Fan 2A]

Yes, since a larger molecule would have more subatomic molecules, and so there would be a higher degeneracy and a higher entropy as well.

[Sara Sandri 2B]

Yes it's fair to say that larger molecules have more disorder than smaller molecules. Their molecular complexity is greater. However, I'd like to point to one example that kind of confused me and that is important to not in context of this question. When comparing Ne (g) to NH3 (g), I initially thought Ne had higher molar entropy since its molar mass is larger than that of NH3. However, since NH3 is a molecule instead of a single atom like Ne, it has higher molar entropy even though its molar mass is smaller.

[Kimiya Aframian IB]

Is it fair to say that larger molecules will always have more disorder than smaller ones?

Yes, I think this is true because when it is larger, there are more particles (ie. protons, neutrons, electrons) that can occupy different positions. Hope this helps!

[Anirudh Mahadev 1G]

While more complexity is a really good reason for why larger molecules have more entropy, keep in mind it also has to do with the number of electrons. Molecules like diatomic iodine gas have more entropy than diatomic fluorine gas because it has a larger number of electrons even though complexity is relatively similar.

[Mursall M 2A]

Yeah! I think of it in the same way because a more complex molecule will have more entropy/disorder. You can also consider the mass in the same way, the greater the mass, the greater the disorder.

[Neha Jonnalagadda 2D]

Larger and more complex molecular have more disorder.