State Function
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State Function
Why is change in internal energy a state function when it is comprised of things that are not state functions?
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Re: State Function
The change in internal energy during a process depends only upon the initial state and final state while work and heat depends on upon the path followed. Thus, internal energy is a state function and work and heat are not.
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Re: State Function
The book mentions that a state function does not need to be composed of state functions itself to be a state function. Therefore, the fact that internal energy is composed of work and heat, neither of which are state functions, does not stop internal energy from being a state function. Thus, the change in internal energy of a system is only dependent upon its initial and final states.
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