Which of the following statements best summarizes a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics?
A) If the entropy of a system increases, there must be a corresponding decrease in the entropy of the universe.
B) If the entropy of a system decreases, there must be a corresponding decrease in the entropy of the universe.
C) If entropy of a system decreases, there must be a corresponding increase in the entropy of the universe.
D) Each chemical reaction in an organism must decrease the total entropy of the universe.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time, and is constant if and only if all processes are reversible. If the entropy of a system decreases, the entropy of its surroundings must increase by at least the same amount, leading to a net increase in the entropy of the universe.

Which of the Following Statements Best Summarizes a Consequence of the Second