5
QuizMultiple Choice

Temperature and Heat — Unit test

Question 5 • 25-26 CHEMISTRY IN THE EARTH SYSTEM S1

Which is the best example of decreasing entropy?

Answer
A
A box of nails is left in the rain and the nails rust over time.
B
A pile of dirt on a floor is cleaned up with a broom.
C
A puddle of water is exposed to the sun and evaporates.
D
A tree in a forest grows naturally over 10 years.

Explanation

Entropy is associated with how dispersed or disordered matter is. Sweeping a pile of dirt into a controlled place makes the floor cleaner and the dirt more organized, so the entropy of that area decreases. Rusting and evaporation spread matter into less ordered states, while a growing tree is not as direct an example of decreasing entropy in the choices.

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