What does a negative value for work (w) indicate about a process?

A negative value for work (w) indicates that the system is doing work on the surroundings or that energy is being released from the system. In thermodynamics, when work is done by the system, it is considered as energy leaving the system, hence the negative sign.

This situation can often be associated with spontaneous processes where the system is capable of doing work as a result of its own internal energy changes, typically moving towards a lower energy state. For example, when gas expands in a piston against atmospheric pressure, it does work on the surroundings, resulting in a negative work value. The energy transferred as work could be converted from potential or internal energy, supporting the spontaneity of the reaction or process.

Consequently, the assertion that a negative work value indicates that work is being produced aligns with its interpretation in physical chemistry. It represents the system's ability to do work as it transitions to a more stable state, which is often a marker of spontaneity.