Iso Processes

Isochoric: The volume of the system remains constant throughout a process.

Ex. If you heat a gas in a closed, rigid container, the volume of the gas will stay the same even as temperature and pressure change.

Isobaric: The pressure of the system remains constant throughout a process.

Ex. You blow air into a balloon. The balloon expands so that the internal pressure remains constant. The volume changes but the pressure is constant.

Isothermal: The temperature of the system stays constant through a reaction.

Ex. Melting (as well as all other phase changes) is isothermal. As a substance transitions from the solid to liquid phase, the added energy is used to weaken attractions, not change temperature. Thus, temperature remains constant.

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