Confused about enthelpy change in ideal gas

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves the enthalpy change of an ideal gas undergoing a state change under specific conditions, including variations in pressure and temperature. The original poster is exploring the relationship between enthalpy change and heat in the context of thermodynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate various thermodynamic properties, including ΔE, work, heat, ΔH, and ΔS, but expresses confusion regarding the enthalpy change in a non-constant pressure process. Some participants suggest that the pressure of the system is not constant, which affects the calculation of ΔH.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants providing clarifications regarding the nature of the pressure in the system and how it relates to the enthalpy change. There is recognition of the need to differentiate between constant external pressure and system pressure.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is new to thermodynamics and is grappling with fundamental concepts related to energy changes and enthalpy. There is a mention of specific equations relevant to the calculations, but the original poster indicates a lack of understanding regarding the application of these concepts in this scenario.

susdu
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Homework Statement



The state of 3.75mol ideal gas changed from 0.3atm and 500K to 2.2atm and 330K under constant external pressure (Pex = 2.2atm).

Calculate ΔE, work (w) and heat(Q), ΔH, ΔS.


Homework Equations



w= -∫PexdV
ΔE=1.5nRΔT=w+Q
ΔH=ΔE+Δ(PV)
ΔS=dQrev/T

The Attempt at a Solution



I recently started a thermodynamics course and this question seems entry-level but I'm still unable to grasp some fundamental concepts. Calculating the energy change, work and heat was pretty straight forward: I used the appropriate equations to find energy change and work and then used the first law to find the heat.

Problem is when I was asked about the enthalpy change, I thought "ok, this is a constant pressure process, so the enthalpy change is equal to the heat". But apparently this is not the case.

What am I missing?
 
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It's not a constant pressure process. The pressure of the surroundings is constant, but the system pressure is not constant. You already calculated ΔE, and presumably you can calculate the initial and final volumes, so you can get Δ(pV). This will give you ΔH. You can also get ΔH another way, by using nCpΔT, and remembering that Cp=Cv+R for an ideal gas. This should, of course, give you the same answer.
 
So trivial, should have noticed that. Thank you.
 
Can you give an example of a constant pressure process where the enthalpy change equals the heat?
(I can't seem to distinguish between the given scenarios)
 

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