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Question

What Is The Significance Of Enthalpy In the Second Law Of Thermodynamics?


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Solution

Enthalpy:

  • Enthalpy is a state function.
  • The enthalpy, H, is equal to the sum of the internal energy, U, and the product of the pressure, P, and volume, V, of the system.
  • It can be expressed as: H=U+pV.
  • H is a state function because it depends on U, p, and V, all of which are state functions.
  • Therefore, H is independent of the path.
  • Thus, it can be expressed as: H=U+pV.

Significance of Enthalpy in the second law of thermodynamics:

  • As per the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy change in an isolated system can only be positive or zero.
  • Therefore, a process can be feasible only when the change in the entropy of the universe is positive.
  • The change in enthalpy conveniently quantifies the heat flow of reactions.

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