enthalpy vs. heat

[Melissa Per 2J]

How is enthalpy a state function, but heat a path function?

[Megan Purl 1E]

Enthalpy is a state function because it is only dependent on the initial and final conditions; it is only depends on these conditions and not the path taken in order to reach these conditions. Meanwhile heat is path dependent therefore it is a path function. Think of it like position vs displacement: position is only dependent on where you start and where you finish meanwhile displacement is dependent on the path you take. So you could reach the same final position with two different displacements similar to how you can reach the same enthalpy with two different heat functions.

[DianaTrujillo2K]

Heat is a path function because the amount of heat a system has is based on how it went from one state to another; however, enthalpy only depedns on the final and initial states.