Which of the following statements is a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics?
A)The energy of the starting materials for a reaction will equal the sum of energies of the products plus energy released as heat and disorder.
B)The amount of useable energy resulting from a reaction will always be less than the total energy available in the starting materials.
C)The entropy of the products of a reaction will always be greater than the entropy of the starting materials.
D)The entropy of the starting materials for a reaction will always be greater than the entropy of the products

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics states that in any energy transfer or transformation, the amount of usable energy will always be less than the total energy available in the starting materials. This is often expressed in terms of increasing entropy or disorder in the system. Therefore, choice B is the correct statement. Choice A refers to the law of conservation of energy and does not necessarily relate to entropy or disorder. Choice C and D refer to changes in entropy, but do not address the relationship between usable energy and total energy in the system.

Which of the Following Statements Is a Consequence of the Second