When water is boiled, and the dissolved oxygen that was in the water

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between boiling water, dissolved oxygen, and entropy changes in an open system. When water is boiled, the dissolved oxygen (O2) escapes, leading to an increase in total entropy despite a decrease in the entropy of the liquid water (H2O). The key takeaway is that while O2(g) has higher entropy than H2O(l), the overall entropy of the universe increases due to the escape of gas, which creates a more random condition. This aligns with the principle that total entropy must increase for spontaneous processes.

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  • Understanding of thermodynamics, specifically the concepts of entropy and enthalpy.
  • Familiarity with the dissolution process and its impact on entropy.
  • Knowledge of open systems in thermodynamic contexts.
  • Basic principles of gas behavior and partial pressures.
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  • Study the laws of thermodynamics, focusing on the second law and its implications for entropy.
  • Research the dissolution process and its effect on entropy, particularly in solutions.
  • Learn about gas behavior and the concept of partial pressure in open systems.
  • Examine real-world applications of entropy changes, such as in carbonated beverages and their behavior upon opening.
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Students of chemistry, physicists, and anyone interested in thermodynamics and entropy changes in physical systems will benefit from this discussion.

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When water is boiled, and the dissolved oxygen that was in the water escapes, why does this raise the entropy of the system? The O2 gas has a higher entropy than the H20, so when it departs the liquid, shouldn't the entropy decrease as the gas is no longer present? Thanks.
 
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How are you defining your system?
 


Mapes said:
How are you defining your system?

H20(l) + Heat ---> H20(g), in an open system. Is that what you're asking? Thanks.
 
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If the system includes both the water and the adjacent gas, I don't see a problem with entropy decreasing in one region as long as the increase in the adjacent region is at least as large.
 


Mapes said:
If the system includes both the water and the adjacent gas, I don't see a problem with entropy decreasing in one region as long as the increase in the adjacent region is at least as large.

But with a portion of the dissolved oxygen escaped into the atmosphere, shouldn't the H20(l) that is was dissolved in now have a lower entropy, as gas has escaped?
 


As long as the total entropy of the universe increases, there is no problem.
 


espen180 said:
As long as the total entropy of the universe increases, there is no problem.

Thanks for the replies. I think I might be asking my question wrong. Let's look at it from the other end. O2(g) has a higher entropy than H2O(l), so how come when O2(g) is dissolved into water, the entropy decreases. Should it not go up, as O2(g) contributes a higher entropy to the reaction?
 


jools111 said:
...how come when O2(g) is dissolved into water, the entropy decreases.

I don't believe it does. Entropy will always increase when two pure substances are mixed together.
 


Mapes said:
I don't believe it does. Entropy will always increase when two pure substances are mixed together.

That's what I thought as well. My text is telling me otherwise though.
 
  • #10


If you'd like to relay what the text says, you'll likely get helpful comments. Please include as much as possible so the context is clear.
 
  • #11


Mapes said:
If you'd like to relay what the text says, you'll likely get helpful comments. Please include as much as possible so the context is clear.

"Large negative values for (delta)H and large positive values for (delta)S are associated with high solubilities. This is consistent with the observation tat acetone and chloroform are completely miscible"

Also, when decribing the effect of a carbonated soda bottle being opened:

"Entropy increases, since the dissolved gas is allowed to escape, creating a more random condition."

It's a little confusing to me...
 
  • #12


jools111 said:
"Large negative values for (delta)H and large positive values for (delta)S are associated with high solubilities.

The \Delta S here is for the dissolution process itself, not the entropy of either of the constituents.

jools111 said:
"Entropy increases, since the dissolved gas is allowed to escape, creating a more random condition."

Total entropy increases, even though the entropy of the liquid decreases because of the departure of (some, not all of) the gas. The gas escapes until its partial pressure in the liquid equals its partial pressure above the liquid. At that point, the entropy benefit of escaping into the atmosphere exactly equals the entropy penalty of no longer being dissolved in the liquid. Does this make sense?
 
  • #13


Mapes said:
The \Delta S here is for the dissolution process itself, not the entropy of either of the constituents.



Total entropy increases, even though the entropy of the liquid decreases because of the departure of (some, not all of) the gas. The gas escapes until its partial pressure in the liquid equals its partial pressure above the liquid. At that point, the entropy benefit of escaping into the atmosphere exactly equals the entropy penalty of no longer being dissolved in the liquid. Does this make sense?

It does... But with it being an open system, it not the entropy of the liquid the only factor we would be concerned with? (In reference the soda bottle)
 
  • #14


jools111 said:
It does... But with it being an open system, it not the entropy of the liquid the only factor we would be concerned with? (In reference the soda bottle)

We have to consider all possible changes in entropy, everywhere, when predicting whether a process will be spontaneous or not.
 
  • #15


Mapes said:
We have to consider all possible changes in entropy, everywhere, when predicting whether a process will be spontaneous or not.

Ok. Thanks for your help!
 
  • #16


Remember that the entropy tells you whether your system is in disorder or not.

If initially you had molecules of O2 and H2O (having no interaction at all), you could say that it tends to a bigger disorder than having molecules of O2 and H2O together. As they are working now like one only molecule, thus decreasing the disorder of the system.

Good Luck
 

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