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Thermodynamics

Question
CBSEENCH11006250

Prove that in an irreversible process:
∆S(system) + ∆S(surroundings) > 0

Solution

If any part of the process is irreversible, the process as a whole is irreversible. Suppose the total heat lost by the surrounding is qirrev. This heat is absorbed by the system. However, entropy change of the system is always calculated from the heat absorbed reversibly.
 Thus comma space increment straight S subscript system space equals space straight q subscript rev over straight T space space space space space... left parenthesis 1 right parenthesis
Entropy change of the surroundings is given by
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This is because of the large size of the surroundings due to which heat lost (qirrev) by the surroundings can be considered as the heat lost reversibly and isothermally at temperature T.
The total entropy change for the combined system and surroundings is
increment straight S subscript left parenthesis system right parenthesis end subscript space plus space increment straight S subscript left parenthesis surroundings right parenthesis end subscript space equals space straight q subscript rev over straight T space minus space straight q subscript irrev over straight T space space... left parenthesis 3 right parenthesis
We know that the work done in a reversible process is the maximum work.
                        straight w subscript rev greater than space straight w subscript irrev space space space space space... left parenthesis 4 right parenthesis
Also, internal energy (U) is a state function, the value of U is same whether the process is carried out reversibly or irreversibly. Hence
     increment straight U space equals space straight q subscript rev space minus space straight w subscript rev space space space space space
space space space space space space space equals straight q subscript irrev space minus space straight w subscript irrev space space space space space... left parenthesis 5 right parenthesis
From relation (4) and (5), we conclude that
                          straight q subscript rev greater than space straight q subscript irrev
because space space space space straight q subscript rev over straight T greater than space straight q subscript irrev over straight T
or space space space space space straight q subscript rev over straight T space minus space straight q subscript irrev over straight T greater than 0 space space space space space space... left parenthesis 6 right parenthesis
Combining the result with the result given in equation (3),
       increment straight S subscript system space plus space increment straight S subscript surroundings greater than 0
Thus, in an irreversible process, the entropy change for the combined system and the surroundings i.e. an isolated system is greater than zero i.e. an irreversible process is accompanied by a net increase of entropy.