state functions

[Vuong_2F]

what’s a state function?

[Long Luong 2H]

A state function is a property whose value is independent of the path taken to obtain the value. In other words, it doesn't matter how the particular value was achieved, but only as it exists in its current condition.

[Karina Kong 2H]

You can also add and subtract state functions.

[Renee Grange 1I]

A state function is a value that doesn't depend on path taken to obtain that state and its value is determined by its current state.

[Jasleen Kahlon]

A good example of state vs path functions is thinking of two points on a map, A and B, that are 100 km apart if you were to draw a straight line from one to the other. That 100km is representative of a state function. There are two roads to get from A to B, one road is 120km, the other is 180km. This is representative of a path function, as the distance from A to B by this would depend on which road (path) is taken.

[005206171]

State functions don't depend on the "path" they take. Usually they'll usually just involve the intial and final states. Some examples are enthalpy, temperature, density, volume, and pressure. Nonexamples have many parameters/variables in their equations because we have to consider them when calculating their values, meaning they don't depend on the path they take. Some nonexamples are work and heat.

[zfinn]

state functions only depend on the final value, not the way you got there. for example in a state function it wouldn't matter if you walked down bruinwalk or through the tennis courts to get to Lavelle's lecture, it only matters that you showed up at the lecture and that the lecture is your current location/state.

[Deepika Reddy 1A]

State functions are when you only care about the initial and final values but the path taken to get to these values is not important.

[Sanjana K - 2F]

Examples: energy, pressure, volume, temperature, density, heat capacity
Non-examples: work, heat

[005384106]

In 4B. 9 there is a situation where no energy is transferred as heat, what does this mean if delta U = work function?

[Gurmukhi Bevli 4G]

State functions deal with the initial and final values of a system, but are not interested in the path taken by systems to reach those values.