During a spontaneous chemical reaction, it is found that äSsys < 0. This means __________

Question

a. äSsurr < 0 and its magnitude is < äSsys.
b. äSsurr < 0 and its magnitude is > äSsys.
c. äSsurr > 0 and its magnitude is < äSsys.
d. äSsurr > 0 and its magnitude is > äSsys.
e. an error has been made, as Ssys > 0 by necessity for a spontaneous process.
Heat

Answer 1

For a system to be spontaneous you want
dStotal = dSsurr + dSsys = >0
Look to see if d doesn't satisfy that.