In: Chemistry
1mol of an ideal gas is inside a cylinder with a piston under a
pressure of 6 atm. When reducing the pressure to 2 atm at constant
T = 300K:
(a) Who is doing work, the piston or the gas?
(b) What is the type of process for the maximum work? Find the
maximum amount of work.
(c) What is the type of process for the minimum work? Find the
minimum amount of work.
As we know pressure decreases from 6 to 2 atmosphere so process is expansion so work is done by gas.
The type of process for maximum work is reversible isothermal expansion , so maximum work is found as shown in image. As process is expansion so according to IUPAC convention the sign of work is negative.
The type of process for minimum work is irreversible isothermal expansion.So for this process minimum work is found as shown in image.