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First Law of Thermodynamics; Irreversible and Reversible Processes

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Eric A. Gislason

Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60680

Norman C. Craig

Department of Chemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074-1083

J. Chem. Educ., 2002, 79 (2), p 193

DOI: 10.1021/ed079p193

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2002

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.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Physical Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Gases

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Received: August 03, 2009

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First Law of Thermodynamics; Irreversible and Reversible Processes

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"Mysteries" of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics

Student Interpretations of Equations Related to the First Law of Thermodynamics

Understanding the language: Problem solving and the first law of thermodynamics

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