Irreversibility: meaning, definitions and examples
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irreversibility
[ ɪˌrivərˈsɪbɪlɪti ]
scientific processes
Irreversibility refers to the property of a process that cannot be reversed or undone. It indicates that the outcome of a certain procedure leads to a final state that does not allow for restoration to the original condition, often observed in thermodynamic processes or chemical reactions.
Synonyms
inability to revert, non-reversible nature, permanence
Examples of usage
- The irreversibility of the reaction was clearly demonstrated by the formation of products.
- In thermodynamics, the principle of irreversibility implies that energy transformations are not 100% efficient.
- The irreversibility of time is a fundamental aspect of the second law of thermodynamics.
Translations
Translations of the word "irreversibility" in other languages:
🇵🇹 irreversibilidade
🇮🇳 अपरिवर्तनीयता
🇩🇪 Irreversibilität
🇮🇩 irreversibilitas
🇺🇦 незворотність
🇵🇱 nieodwracalność
🇯🇵 不可逆性
🇫🇷 irréversibilité
🇪🇸 irreversibilidad
🇹🇷 geri dönüşsüzlük
🇰🇷 비가역성
🇸🇦 لا عودة
🇨🇿 nevratnost
🇸🇰 nevratnosť
🇨🇳 不可逆性
🇸🇮 nepovratnost
🇮🇸 óaftanleiki
🇰🇿 қайталанбайтындық
🇬🇪 არაპროგნოზირებადობა
🇦🇿 geri dönüşsüzlük
🇲🇽 irreversibilidad
Word origin
The term 'irreversibility' is derived from the prefix 'ir-', which signifies 'not' or 'opposite', combined with 'reversibility', which comes from the Latin 'reversibilis', meaning 'able to be turned back'. The concept has been important in various scientific disciplines, particularly in physics and chemistry, where it describes processes that lead to a state from which recovery to the original state is impossible. This idea became particularly pertinent in the context of the second law of thermodynamics in the 19th century, which introduced the notion that natural processes tend to move towards a state of greater disorder or entropy, effectively illustrating the irreversible nature of certain physical and chemical transformations.