## Extensive vs Intensive Properties

$\Delta U=q+w$

Kate_Santoso_4F
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:29 am

### Extensive vs Intensive Properties

Are work and heat extensive or intensive properties?

Eshwar Venkat 1F
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:22 am

### Re: Extensive vs Intensive Properties

Heat and work aren't properties because they are not state functions. However, internal energy (deltaU) and enthalpy (deltaH, which is often confused for heat) are state functions and extensive properties.

Sophia Ding 1B
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am

### Re: Extensive vs Intensive Properties

What makes something an extensive property is that if the path taken to achieve the final state from the initial state must be taken into account; for things like enthalpy or entropy, what we care about is the initial and final states of the reaction rather than what happens in between. But for a property such as work, it does matter how many joules are used, and therefore things like work and heat are extensive properties.