CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

In an isolated system, are we assuming that it is constant volume?

An isolated system does not necessarily have constant volume, but it could. Isolated just means that there is no exchange of heat or matter with the surroundings.

If needed, say there is a gaseous phase reactant or product in the system, the question would typically make a note to say either pressure or temperature is constant.

An isolated system is a system that has no contact with its surroundings, but it may or may not have a fixed volume, depending on its conditions.

An isolated system's internal energy stays constant or increases, so it's unlikely for it to have a changing volume

A good example of an isolated system would be a bomb calorimeter no energy is exchanged with the surroundings

How could the volume change in an isolated system? Would the system just expand on its own?

An isolated system juts implies that that there is no exchange of energy or matter with the surroundings. An isolated system could have a constant volume but it is not necessary.

I think it just means that there is little to no chance of the system being affected by the surroundings

An isolated system refers to a system that does not exchange matter, heat, or work with the surroundings. Thus, what remains constant as time progresses is the mass and total energy of the system.

An isolated system is a thermodynamic system that cannot exchange either energy or matter outside the boundaries of the system. An isolated system differs from a closed system by the transfer of energy. Closed systems are only closed to matter, energy can be exchanged across the system's boundaries.