How does the formation of ions in solution affect entropy?

Question

Ellie Andrews · Accepted Answer

When an ionic solute dissociates into its ions in a solution, the free ions are continually moving throughout as they are attracted and repulsed by the polar ends of the water molecules, therefore the solution is more disordered than a pure liquid and has higher entropy.

An indicator of chaos or disorder in a system is called entropy, and the more ions there are in a solution, the more disorder there will be. Solids are confined in a crystal lattice or network and have the highest order and lowest entropy. Liquids have a higher entropy than solids because they have the energy to flow around one another and take on the shape of any container they are placed in. The solution is more disordered and has a higher entropy than a pure liquid when an ionic solute dissociates into its ions and the free ions are constantly moving throughout due to the attraction and repulsion of the polar ends of the water molecules. The most entropy is found in gases, whose molecules are always moving randomly and crashing into one another as well as the container they are in. Solid, liquid, solution, gas, and lowest entropy have the highest entropies.

Caleb Adams · Answer

undefined The formation of ions in solution generally increases entropy due to the dispersal of matter and the increase in the number of microstates.