Question

The second law of thermodynamics requires that spontaneous processes generate entropy, either in the system or in the surroundings. What is the thermodynamic driving force for dissolving a solid in a liquid if it is an endothermic process (which reduces the entropy of the surroundings)

Answer 1

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Step-by-step explanation:

Truly, the second law of thermodynamics requires that spontaneous processes generate entropy, either in the system or in the surroundings.

When a solid is dissolved in a liquid, the solid dissociates into ions. These ions increases the number of particles and hence the entropy of the system thereby making the process spontaneous.

Hence, the dissolution of a substance via an endothermic process is spontaneous because of increase in the number of particles which in turn increases the entropy of the system.