The third law of thermodynamics states that
A)the entropy of the universe is increasing.
B)the entropy of the universe is constant.
C)the entropy of the universe equals the sum of the entropy of system and that of the surroundings.
D)the absolute entropy of a substance decreases with increasing temperature.
E)the entropy is zero at 0 K for a perfect crystal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The third law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a perfectly crystalline substance is zero at absolute zero temperature (0 K). This is because at 0 K, the molecules in a perfect crystal are frozen in a perfectly ordered arrangement, and there are no molecular motions or disorder. Therefore, the entropy of the system is at its lowest possible value, which is zero.

The Third Law of Thermodynamics States That