Final answer:
To accomplish work in a chemical system, a coupling of endergonic and exergonic reactions is usually required, where the energy released from an exergonic reaction is used to drive the endergonic one. Both types of reactions also require activation energy to begin the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
For work to be done in a chemical system, it's important to understand the concepts of endergonic and exergonic reactions. An endergonic reaction absorbs energy, while an exergonic reaction releases energy. All chemical reactions, regardless of being endergonic or exergonic, require activation energy to overcome the initial energy barrier and to initiate the reaction.
According to the options provided:
- The system does not necessarily need to be far from its equilibrium point for a reaction to occur; however, if it is, this can drive the reaction in a particular direction.
- Typically, an endergonic reaction is coupled with an exergonic reaction, as the energy released from the exergonic process can be used to drive the endergonic one.
- Two exergonic systems might feed into each other, but this would not directly lead to work being done unless that energy is used to drive another process.
- An endergonic system alone needs an input of energy, and thus it does not inherently have work performed unless energy is supplied from another process.
The idea here is that for work to be accomplished in a chemical system, there often needs to be a coupling of an exergonic reaction, which releases energy, with an endergonic reaction, which requires input of energy to proceed. Both reaction types require a small amount of activation energy to begin.