Following are statements of a few processes taking place in nature. I. Free expansion of a gas II. The combustion of a mixture of petrol and air ignited by a spark III. The leaking of gas from the kitchen cylinder. IV. The transfer of heat from one heated part of a liquid to the other colder part. Which amongst these processes are irreversible in nature?

Step-by-step solution

Free expansion of a gas is a spontaneous process where a gas expands into a vacuum, which cannot be reversed without external work, making it irreversible. The combustion of a mixture of petrol and air is a chemical reaction that releases heat and changes the chemical composition permanently, making it an irreversible process. The leaking of gas from a high-pressure cylinder to a lower-pressure environment is a spontaneous expansion, which is irreversible. The transfer of heat from a hotter part to a colder part of