Question

For an ideal gas isothermal process what is the work done by the gas from 4 Pa to 1 Pa at 300 K?

(a) 1.22 kJ

(b) 2.15 kJ

(c) 2.83 kJ

(d) 3.45 kJ

This question was posed to me at a job interview.

My question is from Simplifications of General Energy Balance topic in portion Application of Energy Balances in the Absence of Chemical Reactions and Energy Balances: How to Account for Chemical Reaction of Basic Chemical Engineering

Answer 1

Right option is (d) 3.45 kJ

Explanation: W = RTln (P1/P2) = 8.314*300 ln (4/1) = 3.45 kJ.