what effect would the clustering of non-polar protein groups in water have on entropy?

[nomdeplume1234]

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I thought an increase in entropy would be related to more disorder and so a decrease would be related to more order. If the proteins are clustering instead of being dispersed in the water wouldn't this be an example of a DECREASE in entropy?

Seems I have been finding answers stating it increases entropy.

 

[Czarcasm]

The aggregation of nonpolar molecules is more ordered and therefore less entropic. The same can be said for a highly polar solvent it's dissolved in, such as water; water must form these highly ordered crystal structures around these nonpolar aggregates. It is for this latter reason that nonpolar substances aggregate together. As the nonpolar substances come together, they reduce their total surface area with the solvent. By reducing the polar to nonpolar interactions, fewer of these "water lattices' form, making the process as a whole more entropic for the solvent and therefore spontaneous as a whole. This is ultimately the biochemical basis that drives the hydrophobic effect.

 

[StarFall]

It depends on the perspective.
Perspective of protein/nonpolar = clustering of proteins -> smaller/closer clump of proteins -> decreased entropy (decreased disorder or increased order)
Perspective of solvent/water = number of H2O molecules surrounding "bigger" protein before clumping/clustering > number of H2O molecules surrounding "smaller" protein after clumping/clustering = less H2O molecules around protein -> more H2O molecules "floating and bumping" around = increased entropy (more disorder or less order)