What characterizes an ideal gas during isothermal and isobaric processes?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the characteristics of an ideal gas specifically during two types of thermodynamic processes: isothermal (constant temperature) and isobaric (constant pressure). It seeks to identify which of the provided options accurately describes those processes.
Answer
Isothermal: constant temperature, inverse pressure-volume relationship. Isobaric: constant pressure, volume and temperature may change.
During an isothermal process for an ideal gas, the temperature stays constant, the internal energy does not change, and the pressure and volume have an inverse relationship (Boyle's Law). During an isobaric process, the pressure remains constant while the gas may expand or contract, resulting in change in volume and temperature.
Answer for screen readers
During an isothermal process for an ideal gas, the temperature stays constant, the internal energy does not change, and the pressure and volume have an inverse relationship (Boyle's Law). During an isobaric process, the pressure remains constant while the gas may expand or contract, resulting in change in volume and temperature.
More Information
In an isothermal process for ideal gases, any heat added to the system is used to do work rather than increase the internal energy, thus keeping the temperature constant. In isobaric processes, the work done can result in changes of volume and temperature under constant pressure.
Tips
Common mistakes involve confusing isothermal processes with isobaric processes, especially mixing up what remains constant in each (temperature in isothermal, pressure in isobaric).
Sources
- Ideal Gas Processes - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
- Thermodynamic processes - labman.phys.utk.edu
- Isobaric process - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
