Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The symbol "∆S" represents the change in entropy of a system. Entropy refers to the measure of randomness or disorder in a system. A negative ∆S indicates a decrease in randomness, while a positive ∆S indicates an increase in randomness.
A spontaneous process occurs naturally without the need for external intervention. It tends to lead to an increase in the overall entropy of the universe.