First Law of Thermodynamics; Irreversible and Reversible Processes

Abstract

The experimental basis for the first law of thermodynamics and related operational definitions are reviewed. An alternative, adiabatic-work formulation of the first law is evaluated. New mathematical expressions for irreversible work in isothermal and adiabatic expansions and compressions of an ideal gas are presented. The work for these irreversible processes is compared graphically with the reversible limit. For the adiabatic case some numerical explorations are also done. An operational definition for reversible processes in purely first-law terms is presented and applied.

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Publication Title

Journal of Chemical Education

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ed079p193

Keywords

Gases

Language

English

Format

text

Link to Full Text

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