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Enthalpy for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'ɛnθælpi

What does Enthalpy really mean?

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Enthalpy is a fancy science word that we use to talk about the amount of energy in a substance. Picture it like a big backpack full of energy that a substance is carrying around. When we talk about enthalpy, we're really talking about how much energy that substance has stored up. This energy can come from all different sources like heat, light, or even chemical reactions.

Now, there are a few different ways we can measure and talk about enthalpy. One way is called "heat of formation" which is all about how much heat is given off or absorbed when a substance is formed from its elements. Another way is "heat of reaction" which is all about how much heat is given off or absorbed when a chemical reaction happens.

So, in a nutshell, enthalpy is all about the energy stored in a substance, like the energy in a backpack, and it's measured in a few different ways depending on what we're trying to figure out about that energy. It's a bit like trying to measure the weight of different things using different types of scales.


Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Martinez on 2023-11-15 16:26:35

Enthalpy In a sentece

Learn how to use Enthalpy inside a sentece

  • When you put ice into a cup of hot water, the enthalpy of the ice increases as it absorbs heat from the water and starts to melt.
  • During a chemical reaction, the enthalpy of the reactants changes as they bond together and form new products.
  • When you heat up a pot of water on the stove, the enthalpy of the water increases as it absorbs heat and begins to boil.
  • In a car engine, the enthalpy of the fuel changes as it burns and produces energy to make the car move.
  • When you freeze water into ice, the enthalpy of the water decreases as it releases heat and changes its state from liquid to solid.

Enthalpy Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

h h heat content heat content total heat total heat

Enthalpy Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

physical property physical property

Enthalpy Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.

thermodynamics thermodynamics