Predict whether S is positive, negative, or close to zero for the following changes.

b) 2KClO₃(s) ----> 2KCl(s) + 3O₂(g)

Answer

In this example 2 moles of reactants form 5 moles of products. That favors more disorder in the products compared to the reactants. However the most important change is the production of three moles of gaseous products. The reactants are solids. Although an equal number of moles of solids are formed, and the KCl is not as complex as KClO₃, the formation of the the gaseous product produce major disorder. So S is positive for this reaction.