Question

Internal energy is a state function. Explain?

Answer 1

Internal energy is a state function:-

• Thermodynamic properties that do not depend on the path followed by the thermodynamic process are called state functions.
• State functions depend only upon the initial and final state of the system.
• Internal energy is considered a state function as it is independent of the path followed for the change of the state of the system.
• It is represented as the total energy of a system which is made up of a number of components like the translational kinetic energy of molecules, bond energy, electronic energy, and the intermolecular interaction energy of the constituents’ particles of the system.
• Also, internal energy is known as a function of pressure, volume, temperature, etc., and all of these variables are called state functions.

Hence, internal energy is a state function”.