Which one of the following is irreversible?
Correct answer: D. A chemical explosion
- A. Slow compression of an elastic spring
- B. Slow evaporation of a substance in an isolated vessel
- C. Slow compression of a gas
- D. A chemical explosion
Explanation
An irreversible process is one that cannot return to its initial state along the same path. A chemical explosion is a rapid, spontaneous reaction that releases energy and changes the chemical composition of substances, making it practically irreversible. The other options describe slow, quasi-static processes which are considered reversible.
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About First Law of Thermodynamics
The first law relates heat supplied, work done and the change in internal energy through energy conservation. Problems use sign conventions and apply the law to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isochoric processes. Internal energy is a state function, while heat and work depend on the path followed.
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