## Equations for calculating work for irreversible and reversible reactions

$w=-P\Delta V$
and
$w=-\int_{V_{1}}^{V_{2}}PdV=-nRTln\frac{V_{2}}{V_{1}}$

Lizzie Zhang 2C
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am

### Equations for calculating work for irreversible and reversible reactions

Hi, I'm so confused about the differences between irreversible and reversible reactions. I know that for irreversible it would be a quick work and it's like rectangles on the graph; and for reversible one it's corresponding to the curve on the graph which has the equation W = -nRT x ln (Vin/Vf)

So what's the equation to calculate the work for irreversible reactions? Is that simply w=-P_ex ∆V ?

Arjun Sharma 1D
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am

### Re: Equations for calculating work for irreversible and reversible reactions

To my understanding, yes w=-Pex(delta V) is for irreversible expansion. I believe the reason that reversible expansion requires a more complicated calculus based work equation is that it deals with an infinitely small change in volume.