Read the following statements carefully: (I) The magnitude of work done by an ideal gas in a reversible isothermal expansion is greater than that in an irreversible isothermal expansion between the same initial and final states. (II) For the free expansion of an ideal gas under isothermal conditions, w = 0 and q = 0 . (III) The formula w = -2.303 nRT ( P₁ P₂ ) can be used to calculate work for both reversible and irr

Step-by-step solution

Statement (I) is correct. For a given expansion between the same initial and final states, the reversible process yields the maximum magnitude of work because the opposing external pressure is maximum at every step. Statement (II) is correct. In free expansion, the external pressure is zero, so w = 0 . Since the process is isothermal for an ideal gas, U = 0 . According to the first law of thermodynamics ( U = q + w ), q must also be 0 . Statement (III) is incorrect. The formula w = -2.303 nRT ( P₁ P₂ ) is derived b