## Irreversible vs. Reversible

Volume: $\Delta S = nR\ln \frac{V_{2}}{V_{1}}$
Temperature: $\Delta S = nC\ln \frac{T_{2}}{T_{1}}$

RenuChepuru1L
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:00 am

### Irreversible vs. Reversible

Can someone explain when it’s okay to use the same equation for reversible and irreversible reactions expansion and when it’s not, also how does the characteristics of idek gases factor in?

Victoria Draper 1G
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Irreversible vs. Reversible

If the external pressure is not constant, then you use the reversible reaction equation. When the external pressure is constant, you use the irreversible pathway equation. If the external pressure is less than the internal pressure, the gas will expand and do work. However, because this occurs in only one step rather than multiple steps, less work is done in an irreversible pathway than in a reversible pathway.

Ramya Lakkaraju 1B
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:03 am

### Re: Irreversible vs. Reversible

Sometimes, when you are trying to calculate values for a state function, it does not matter whether you use data from reversible or irreversible reactions since all you need is final minus initial; the path does not matter.