Chemistry question

Question

In which process is entropy decreased?

(A)dissolving sugar in water

(B)expanding a gas

(C)evaporating a liquid

(D) freezing water

could you explain which option is correct and why?

Answer 1

Entropy can be thought of disorder in a system. Entropy increase can be thought of as energy becoming less compact or more disperse. This is the case for A, B, and C in your question. The only option where entropy is decreasing is D, freezing water. Freezing water reduces the disorder of a system. Picking up a single ice cube is easier than cleaning up a water spill of the same volume if it helps to think about it this way.