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Topic: Calculating work from a chemical reaction  (Read 1678 times)

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Offline katherinetran25

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Calculating work from a chemical reaction
« on: October 21, 2014, 02:25:53 PM »
In a problem set, we were given:
G(standard state)=-31kJ/mol
[ATP]=10^-2M, [ADP]=10^-4M, [phosphate]=10^-1M, [H2O]=55mol/L
And were asked to find the free energy produced, and the maximum amount of available work.

Of course, I calculated the free energy using G = G(standard state) + RTlnQ
(I got G = -48.1kJ/mol)

But where I get confused is how to calculate the amount of work from this reaction.
I know that a chemical reaction can produce either electrical or expansion work (W=-PdV). However, in liquids and solids, the volume doesn't change that much in a reaction so expansion work is not done. Obviously, work isn't zero, because the purpose of hydrolyzing ATP is to produce energy (work) for a cell.

Can anyone share any insight on how to calculate work for a non-gaseous chemical reaction?

Thank you! 

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