Question

In chemistry thermodynamics work done on the system is

Answer 1

My chemistry book says when work is done on the system, it is positive. When work is done by the system, it is negative.

My physics book says the opposite. It says that when work is done on the system, it is negative. When work is done by the system, it is positive.

Answer 2

Answer:

In thermodynamics work is defined as −pexΔV for an ideal gas. If the total work is a negative value, that is in case of expansion of gas, we say that the work is done by the system and is negative.