Enthalpy

From Citizendium
Revision as of 10:39, 21 June 2009 by imported>Paul Wormer
Jump to navigation Jump to search

In thermodynamics, enthalpy is the sum of the internal energy U of a system and the product of pressure p and V of the system,

Enthalpy used to be called "heat content", which is why it is conventionally indicated by H.

The work term pV has dimension energy, in SI units joule, and H has the same dimension. Enthalpy is a state function, a property of the state of the thermodynamic system and its value is determined entirely by the temperature T, pressure p, and composition NA, NB, ... (molar amounts of substances A, B, ... ) of the system and not by its history.


To be continued