Txtbk Question 4B.13 Part A and B

[Mia_Renna_1L]

Hi, can someone please walk through this problem?

What does "irreversible expansion against a constant external pressure" mean and what do we do when it says this? Also, is the "101.325 J L^-1 atm^-1" used in the answer key, a conversion factor?

What does "isothermal, reversible expansion to a final volume" mean and what do we do when it says this?

Thanks!

[Chem_Mod]

Irreversible expansion against a constant external pressure means that we can use our constant pressure work equation to calculate the work associated with the expansion, w = -P*(delta V). Reversible and isothermal expansion means that we are doing work at constant temperature, and we use the constant temperature work equation w = -nRT*ln(V2/V1). 101.325 J/(L*atm) is a conversion factor between units of L*atm, which is a unit of energy, and Joules, which is our commonly used unit of energy.