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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: jgr on September 29, 2023, 10:56:41 PM

Title: Energy in microstates
Post by: jgr on September 29, 2023, 10:56:41 PM

Hi,

I was just wondering the purpose of this question specifying that the orientations in the microstates are of the "same energy"?

Calculate the entropy of a sample of a solid in which the molecules may be found in any one of three orientations with the same energy. Suppose there are 30 molecules in the sample.

Why is this important? If the orientations were of different energies, would the Boltzmann formula be invalid?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Energy in microstates
Post by: mjc123 on September 30, 2023, 04:20:08 PM

No, but the Boltzmann distribution would be different.