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Re: Entropy and states of matter



I'm not sure I understand the question. The entropy of a gas (or
liquid) does decrease when it condenses (or solidifies) but the
evolved heat serves to increase the entropy of the surroundings by
at least as much.

Is this the explanation you've given in the past? If not, what
was it? And if so, why do you think students are so much more
skeptical this year?

John Mallinckrodt mailto:ajm@csupomona.edu
Cal Poly Pomona http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm

On Mon, 25 Feb 2002, Malot, Woody wrote:

I need to find a good way to explain that entropy increase is not violated
when a material goes from a liquid or gas (disorder) to a solid (highly
ordered). Any ideas? This years class does not seem to accept the normal
explaniations that I have used in the past.
woody malot