## Isothermal

isochoric/isometric: $\Delta V = 0$
isothermal: $\Delta T = 0$
isobaric: $\Delta P = 0$

Hellen Truong 2J
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### Isothermal

Why does an isothermal reaction have no change in internal energy?

Johann Park 2B
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### Re: Isothermal

Internal energy is a state function dependent on temperature, thus, when temperature does not change (definition of isothermal), there is no change in internal energy. Additional note: Dealing with ideal gases, contributions to U are kinetic energy and intermolecular interactions. The latter is 0, because we are dealing with ideal gases, and so we are left with kinetic energy. The kinetic energy does not change if the temperature does not change.

Amanda Wu 2C
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: Isothermal

In the case of an ideal gas, the change in internal energy is given by delta U = (3/2)*R*delta T. If a reaction involving an ideal gas is isothermal, the temperature remains constant, meaning delta T=0. Hence, plugging delta T=0 in the aforementioned delta U equation gives delta U=0.