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∆S

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.

Analogy

Imagine cleaning your room and organizing all your belongings neatly on shelves. Initially, your room is messy with clothes and books scattered everywhere (high entropy). As you clean up and put everything in its place, your room becomes more organized and less chaotic (low entropy).

Related terms

Entropy: Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness within a system.

Spontaneous Process: 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.

Gibbs Free Energy: Gibbs free energy (ΔG) combines both enthalpy (∆H) and entropy (∆S) changes to determine whether a process is spontaneous or non-spontaneous.