[rleung]

Hi,

For a practice question in chemistry, it asks which of the following has the greatest entropy: O(g), O2(g), or O3(g).  The answer in the book was O(g), but I have always learned that, for molecules in the same state, entropy generally increases with increasing molecular complexity.  Hence, I would've chosen O3(g).  I even confirmed it in my textbook that has a table of values for entropy (O3(g) had the highest S value). 

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Ryan

[Borek]

IMHO something is wrong with the question. Are you talking about entropy of the signle molecule, or of the mole of molecules, or of the mole of oxygen atoms combined into molecules?

[rleung]

Ahh...I actually see where I went wrong now.  It said 5-g sample, so I guess O(g) would have the greatest number of moles, hence, greatest entropy, right?

Ryan

[Borek]

Ahh...I actually see where I went wrong now.  It said 5-g sample, so I guess O(g) would have the greatest number of moles, hence, greatest entropy, right?

Sounds OK to me, but I am very narrowly specialized