Difference Between State Function and Path Function

A state function is a property describes a particular state, without depending on the path taken to reach this state. In contrast, functions whose value depends on the path taken to get between two states are called path functions.

Which is the path function?

Path functions are properties or quantities whose values depend on the transition of a system from the initial state to the final state. The two most common path functions are heat and work.

What is the state function in chemistry?

A state function describes the equilibrium state of a system, thus also describing the type of system. ... Internal energy, enthalpy, and entropy are examples of state quantities because they quantitatively describe an equilibrium state of a thermodynamic system, regardless of how the system arrived in that state.

Which one is a state function?

The thermodynamic properties whose values depend only upon the initial and final states of the system are known as state functions. A state function is simply one that depends only on the start and endpoint, and not the path. Example internal energy (U), enthalpy (H), entropy (S) etc.

What is the difference between a state function and a non state function?

Basically, from what I know, a state function usually has final state - initial state (path has no impact) while a non state function will require the whole path or value in addition to its initial and final. So like friction, a non state function, includes the total distance traveled by a particle.

What is path function example?

Examples of state functions include density, internal energy, enthalpy, entropy. Such a relation cannot be written for path functions, especially since these cannot be defined for the limiting states. Path functions depend on the route taken between two states. Two examples of path functions are heat and work.

Which is not a path function?

Heat and work are path functions because they depend on how a sysem changes from initial to final state, hence they are state functions. Thermal conductivity is mainly a function of the motion of the free electrons therefore property of a material, not a path function.

Why pressure is a state function?

We define a cyclic process as a process in which the thermodynamic parameters of the system reaches its initial values and pressure is one of the known thermodynamic parameters. So in cyclic process, the change in pressure is zero and hence it is a state function.

How Entropy is a state function?

Entropy is surely a state function which only depends on your start and end states, and the change in entropy between two states is defined by integrating infinitesimal change in entropy along a reversible path. But heat Q is not a state variable, the amount of heat gained or lost is path-dependent.

Why Heat is not a state function?

A state function is independent of pathways taken to get to a specific value, such as energy, temperature, enthalpy, and entropy. Enthalpy is the amount of heat released or absorbed at a constant pressure. Heat is not a state function because it is only to transfer energy in or out of a system; it depends on pathways.

Which are not state functions?

Heat and work are not state functions. Work can't be a state function because it is proportional to the distance an object is moved, which depends on the path used to go from the initial to the final state.

What is state function and state variable?

If an integral of a certain property can be calculated using just the property and it's initial and final value, the property is a state function. ... Any change in these properties will change the state of a system and these properties are called state variables.

Is pressure a path function?

In contrast, those functions which do depend on the path from two points are known as path functions. State functions are the values which depend on the state of the substance like temperature, pressure or the amount or type of the substance. ... State functions can be considered as integrals.

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