Reversible

[Kayla Tchorz-Dis 1F]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between what reversible and irreversible and how it’s improtnst to understanding a question! Thanks!

[mayasinha1B]

The reversible expansion of an ideal gas has a pressure that is not constant, which causes us to need an integral to find the area under the curve which is w=-nRTln(V2/V1)

The irreversible expansion is against a constant external pressure, so the calculation is easier and we can just use the area of a rectangle to find the area under the graph. We just use w=-P*deltaV

[Abby Ellstrom 1I]

Reversible expansion does not have a constant pressure so you use w=-nRTln(V2/V1). Irreversible expansion has a constant external pressure so you use w = -(Pex)dV

[Angela 1K]

It is also helpful to remember the reversible systems do not occur in real life. Rather, this equation is used to find the maximum work available for a system.

[JamesAntonios 1E]

Reversible is when there is an infinitesimally small change, the reaction can be "reversed" and is not greatly affected. On the other hand, a irreversible reaction is a large change that is can be specifically pinpointed.

[Warda Sahib 2J]

The reversible expansion does not have constant pressure, while the irreversible one does.