alleryStart learning →A pure, perfectly crystalline solid at absolute zero is described by how many microstates?
ANo microstates at all
BA single microstate
CTwo equal microstates
DMany random microstates
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. A single microstate
1. The third law rests on a system with no freedom left.
2. Consider a pure, perfectly crystalline solid possessing no kinetic energy.
3. That means a temperature of absolute zero, 0 K.
4. This system may be described by a single microstate, so W equals 1.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 16 'Thermodynamics', sections 16.1-16.4_
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