One mole of an ideal gas undergoes free expansion into a vacuum, changing its volume from 10 L to 10 — Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Free expansion refers strictly to the unconstrained expansion of a gas into a vacuum, where the opposing external pressure ($P_{ext}$) is definitively zero. Since thermodynamic $P-V$ work is defined as $w = -P_{ext} \Delta V$, substituting $P_{ext} = 0$ yields a net work of 0 J.