A chemical reaction takes place in a container of cross-sectional area 50.0 cm². As a result of the reaction, a piston was pushed out through 15 cm against an external pressure of 121 kPa. Calculate the work done by the system.

Answer 1

To calculate the work done by the system, we can use the formula:

Work = Force x Distance

First, we need to calculate the force exerted by the system using the formula:

Force = Pressure x Area

Given that the external pressure is 121 kPa and the cross-sectional area is 50.0 cm², we need to convert the area to m² and the pressure to Pa:

Area = 50.0 cm² = 0.0050 m²
Pressure = 121 kPa = 121,000 Pa

Now, we can calculate the force:

Force = 121,000 Pa x 0.0050 m²
Force = 605 N

Next, we can calculate the work done by the system:

Work = Force x Distance
Work = 605 N x 15 cm = 605 N x 0.15 m
Work = 90.75 J

Therefore, the work done by the system during the chemical reaction is 90.75 Joules.