Question

Describe the rusting of a car in terms of the First and Second laws of Thermodynamics at the level of the organization of the molecular structure of the car (steel/alloy, in a generic way) and the impact of energy Distribution on the surrounding system

Answer 1

First Law of Thermodynamics helps in figuring out the energy quantity that is required for transformation of a car at normal molecule level to rust. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be destroyed nor created but can be transferred from one form to another. The same applies for the car at its molecular level because the car as a whole cannot be destroyed and the steel or other construction material used can be converted into rust.

The second law of thermodynamics states that when there is transformation of energy from one form to another, the entropy or disorder in a closed system increases. It states that entropy with always increase. In case of rusting of the car, second law refers to available energy and how it is available to perform a function. The mechanism gives information about how energy operates to decrease the energy available in the system resulting in increased dissipation of matter. It gives us an insight about how nothing actually disappears and in case of rusting of the car, the car does not disappear but turns into rust and it cannot be reversed back. In short due to the entropy increase, the car has lost its pure form.