Calculating an Entropy of Vaporization
The boiling point of water is 100 °C, and the enthalpy change for the conversion of water to steam is ΔH_{vap} = 40.67 kJ/mol. What is the entropy change for vaporization, ΔS_{vap}, in J/(K · mol)?
STRATEGY
At the temperature where a phase change occurs, the two phases coexist in equilibrium and ΔG, the free-energy difference between the phases, is zero: ΔG = ΔH – TΔS = 0. Rearranging this equation gives ΔS = ΔH/T, where both ΔH and T are known. Remember that T must be expressed in kelvin.
As you might expect, there is a large positive entropy change, corresponding to a large increase in randomness, on converting water from a liquid to a gas.