A state function is a property whose value depends on
Correct answer: B. the present state of the system only, not on how it was reached
- A. the path taken to reach the present state
- B. the present state of the system only, not on how it was reached
- C. the time taken for the change
- D. the catalyst used
Explanation
Enthalpy, internal energy, entropy, pressure, volume and temperature are all state functions, so the change in any of them depends only on the initial and final states. This path independence is precisely what makes Hess's law valid and useful. Work and heat, by contrast, are path functions, since their values do depend on how the change was carried out.
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About System, Surroundings and State Functions
A system is the part of the universe under study, while everything outside it is the surroundings; the boundary separates them. State functions such as pressure, temperature, volume, internal energy and enthalpy depend only on the state, unlike heat and work, which depend on the path taken.
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