## calculating work of a reversible reaction

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

LeAirraBullingor2k
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Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 12:15 am

### calculating work of a reversible reaction

When will work be negative? Like how will we know whether to keep the negative number or not?

Michael Nguyen 1E
Posts: 120
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: calculating work of a reversible reaction

Work will be negative when the system does work on the surroundings. This generally happens when the system expands in volume through work of expansion.

Robert Tran 1B
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Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: calculating work of a reversible reaction

Work will be negative if the volume is increasing. You should always keep the negative if you are calculating the work being done on the system.

Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: calculating work of a reversible reaction

If a system is doing work on the surroundings in the instance of expansion, then work is being lost so work will be negative.

Joowon Seo 3A
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### Re: calculating work of a reversible reaction

work of a system will always be negative because we use the pressure external to calculate the work. The system will lose energy since it is doing work

Michelle Xie 2B
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:18 am

### Re: calculating work of a reversible reaction

If the system is doing work, or expanding, work would be negative. If it had work being done on it, or being compressed, it would be positive.