Negative Change in Entropy of the Universe

[Charlene D 3H]

Why can delta S of the universe be negative if the entropy of the universe is always increasing?

[Neal_Agarwal_3B]

I believe this could be possible if for a moment the single reaction is reducing the entropy of the universe. Keep in mind that other reactions will be occurring throughout the universe that will increase entropy. I think the idea that entropy is increasing is applied when considering the entire universe and all the reactions occurring in it not just the system.

[Lorena_Morales_1K]

I am actually very confused on this concept as well

[Matlynn Giles 2E]

Can someone please elaborate on this?

[Wasila Sun 2I]

I think for a single reaction we refer to anything not in the system as the universe or the surroundings, so for a single reaction the entropy can be negative. But, the overall trend of the universe's entropy over time will increase because it takes energy to make things more ordered but descending into chaos in spontaneous. This overall trend encompasses many reactions, so I think it is saying that out of all the reactions occuring more of them are increasing entropy than decreasing it.