Question

For a process to occur spontaneously

• A. only the entropy of the system must increase
• B. only the entropy of the surroundings must increase
• C. either the entropy of the system or that of the surroundings must increase
• D. the total entropy of the system and the surroundings must increase

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

According to second law of thermodynamics, whenever a spontaneous process takes place, it is always accompanied by an increase in total entropy of the universe (system and surrounding).