# 6.2.2 Enthalpy, H

##### (a) A Useful New State Function

We know that the heat absorbed at constant volume is equal to change in the internal energy i.e., ΔU = qv . But most of chemical reactions are carried out not at constant volume, but in flasks or test tubes under constant atmospheric pressure. We need to define another state function which may be suitable under these conditions.

We may write equation ΔU= q + w  as  ΔU = qp  – pΔV at constant pressure, where qp is heat absorbed by the system and –pΔV
represent expansion work done by the system.

Let us represent the initial state by subscript 1 and final state by 2
We can rewrite the above equation as

U2U1 = qp p (V2 V1)

On rearranging, we get

qp = (U2 + pV2) – (U1 + pV1)

Now we can define another thermodynamic function, the enthalpy H as:

H = U + pV

so, equation  qp = (U2 + pV2) – (U1 + pV1) becomes qp= H2 H1 = H

Although q is a path dependent function, H is a state function because it depends on U, p and V, all of which are state functions. Therefore, H is independent of path. Hence, qp is also independent of path.

For finite changes at constant pressure, we can write equation H = U + pV as

ΔH =  ΔU + pΔV

It is important to note that when heat is absorbed by the system at constant pressure, we are actually measuring changes in the enthalpy.

Remember ΔH = qp, heat absorbed by the system at constant pressure. ΔH is negative for exothermic reactions which evolve heat during the reaction and ΔH is positive for endothermic reactions which absorb heat from the surroundings.

At constant volume (ΔV = 0), ΔU = qv , therefore ΔH = ΔV = qv

The difference between H and U is not usually significant for systems consisting of only solids and / or liquids. Solids and liquids do not suffer any significant volume changes upon heating.

The difference, however, becomes significant when gases are involved. Let us consider a reaction involving gases.

If VA is the total volume of the gaseous reactants, VB is the total volume of the gaseous products, nA is the number of moles of gaseous reactants and nB is the number of moles of gaseous products, all at constant pressure and temperature, then using the ideal gas law, we write,

pVA = nART  and

pVB = nBRT

Thus, pVBpVnBRTnART  =  (nBnA)RT

or p (VBVA) = (nBnA) RT

p ΔV = ΔngRT

Here, Δng refers to the number of moles of gaseous products minus the number of moles of gaseous reactants.

we know   p ΔV = ΔngRT

Substituting the value of p ΔV  to the equation ΔH =  ΔU + pΔV

we get

ΔH =  ΔU + ΔngRT

The above equation is useful for calculating ΔH from ΔU and vice versa.