[smoothsilkmusic]

H2O (g) --> H2O (l)

What are the signs of q and w in the equation E = q + w?

q is negative, but I've asked two physics teachers, and they gave two different answers for work--one said positive and one said negative. The answer key said positive, but my chemistry teacher said he'll give credit if we can show that work is negative as well. Can anyone help?

[Yggdrasil]

Remember that w = -pΔV.  How does the volume of one mole of water vapor compare with the volume of one mole of liquid water?