ΔU vs. ΔH

[Kyra LeRoy 1E]

Can someone explain more in-depth the difference between ΔU & ΔH? I have a general understanding, but I’d like to have a more solid knowledge for the test. (for ex: in which circumstances do we use which one?)

Thanks!

[Nora 1F]

When heat is released or absorbed during a reaction that takes place at constant volume, you use deltaU. When heat is released or absorbed during a reaction that takes place under constant pressure, you use deltaH.
I found the following website to be very helpful in explaining the difference if you read "Enthalpy Versus Internal Energy." Hope this helps!

[Rebecca Doan 2L]

I also was wondering what the relationship between the two was. Like are they completely different variables or do they work together?

[Nora 1F]

Forgot to add the link above!

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/t ... l.php#hvse

[Xihui Yin 1I]

ΔH is the thermodynamic potential of the system, and thus includes work done and ΔU, ΔH=ΔU + PΔV. ΔU is the summation of energies in a system. When work done=0, ΔH=ΔU.

[AnuPanneerselvam1H]

Delta U is a summation of the work done in the system and the heat in the system. In other words, it is a measure of the internal energy of the system. When pressure is constant, there is no work being done. Therefore delta U is equal to delta H under these circumstances.

[Shanmitha Arun 1L]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CygQUIJodc

This is a really helpful video that explains ΔU and ΔH.

[Jaewoo Jo 2L]

deltaU= change in internal energy. Internal energy is the energy in every molecule of in the substance.

deltaU = Q+W

Q= heat added to system and W= work done on the system

deltaU+PdV= W

change in enthalpy (deltaH) is change in total energy of the system and enthalpy H can be written as

H= U+PV

delH= delU+PdV+VdP

[ZoeHahn1J]

Delta U is internal energy, so delta U = q + w. Delta H is enthalpy (heat under constant pressure), so it doesn't account for work.

[Annie Lieu-1H]

Delta H deals with internal energy at a constant pressure versus delta U is just change in internal energy.

[Ryan Sydney Beyer 2B]

It might also be helpful to know the relationship between the two::

Precisely enthalpy is obtained from internal energy when the variable entropy S is substituted by the variable temperature T.