What symbol is used to represent enthalpy?

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Answer 1 · 2017-03-13T19:57:31

Chemists use the symbol #H# to represent enthalpy.

In 1922, Alfred W. Porter proposed that #H# become the accepted symbol for enthalpy.

The word enthalpy comes from the Greek en = "into" + thalpein = "to heat".

We cannot measure the total enthalpy, #H#, of a system directly.

Therefore, we measure the change in enthalpy, #ΔH#.

In symbols,

#ΔH = ΔU + pΔV#

where

#ΔU" =# thechange in internal energy;
#p# = the external pressure, and
#ΔV# = the change in volume of the system.