A sealed, insulated container holds of saturated water vapor at . The vapor condenses…

CHEMISTRY · Subjective · A Level · Chemistry · Thermodynamics · Thermodynamics

Problem

A sealed, insulated container holds 0.50 kg0.50\,\text{kg} of saturated water vapor at 110∘C110^\circ\text{C}. The vapor condenses and simultaneously cools to liquid water at 90∘C90^\circ\text{C}, releasing its energy entirely to a 1.0 kg1.0\,\text{kg} copper block that is initially at 20∘C20^\circ\text{C} inside the same container. Assume no energy leaves the container and that the copper block ends at the same 90∘C90^\circ\text{C} as the water. For each of the following, state whether the entropy change is positive, negative, or zero: (a) the water sample (b) the copper block (c) the isolated container as a whole Provide a brief justification for your choice in each case.

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