Order the following by increasing entropy. CO(g), COCl₂(g), CO₂(g), CaO(s) A) CO₂

Question

Order the following by increasing entropy. CO(g), COCl₂(g), CO₂(g), CaO(s) A) CO₂ < CO < CaO < COCl₂ B) CaO < CO < CO₂ < COCl₂ C) COCl₂ < CO < CaO < CO₂ D) CO₂ < CaO < COCl₂ < CO E) CO < CaO < COCl₂ < CO₂

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Entropy increases with increasing disorder or randomness. Going from solid to gas increases disorder, so CaO(s) will have the lowest entropy. CO(g) and CO₂(g) are both gases, but CO₂(g) has a greater molar mass and therefore more atoms to contribute to disorder, so it will have a higher entropy than CO(g). Finally, COCl₂(g) has three different atoms and a larger molar mass than both CO(g) and CO₂(g), so it will have the highest entropy. Therefore, the correct order from lowest to highest entropy is CaO < CO < CO₂ < COCl₂, which is represented by option B.

Order the Following by Increasing Entropy