Question

When the environment is contaminated by a toxic or potentially toxic substance (for example, from a chemical spill or the use of insecticides), the substance tends to disperse. How is this consistent with the second law of thermodynamics? In terms of the second law, which requires the least work: cleaning the environment after it has been contaminated or trying to prevent the contamination before it occurs? Explain.

Short answer

A much larger area has to be decontaminated if a substance gets dispersed.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of dispersion

A system in which distributed particles of one material are dispersed in a continuous phase of another material is defined as dispersion

Explanation

Due to the process of dispersion, the randomness increases. The entropy of the universe increases because it is a spontaneous process.

The work needs to be done to overcome this increased entropy. In terms of the second law of thermodynamics, it is more beneficial to prevent contamination of the environment rather than to clean it up later.

If a substance gets dispersed, a much larger area must be decontaminated.