Question

A reaction at 3.24 atm consumes 5.10 L of a gas adiabatically (q = 0). Calculate the change in internal energy of the system (in kJ).

I know that I have to use w=-p deltaV but how do i find the Final and Initial volumes?

Answer 1

If it consumes 5.10L, does it matter what the initial V and final V actually are. The difference will be 5.10 L and I would use 5.10 as V1 and V2 as zero (since it was consumed). Of course you could always use any other set of numbers such as 35.10 and 30.0 L or 125.10 and 120.0.