# Is specific heat capacity state function or a path function?

In thermodynamics, is specifc heat capacity of a substance considered a state function or a path function?

$\color{#D61F06}{\text{Rebuttal in favour of state function}}$:-
Specific heat capacity is constant for a particular substance at a particular physical state and remains invariant until transition state (melting, evaporating, etc) is achieved.

$\color{#3D99F6}{\text{Rebuttal in favour of path function}}$:-
Any type of heat is a path function and extensive property because it depends on path followed by system like flow of heat is unidirectional in nature spontaneously as it flows from high temperatures to low temperatures.

Definitions used:-

• Specific heat capacity of a substance is the heat required to raise the temperature of $1$ gram of a substance by $1 K$.

• State function is a thermodynamic function which is independent of the path taken anddepends only on the initial and final values . For example, displacement.

• Path function is a thermodynamic function which is dependent of the path taken. For example, distance travelled.

Note by Ashish Siva
2 years, 9 months ago

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

• Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
• Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
• Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold
- bulleted- list
• bulleted
• list
1. numbered2. list
1. numbered
2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in $$ ... $$ or $ ... $ to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 $2 \times 3$
2^{34} $2^{34}$
a_{i-1} $a_{i-1}$
\frac{2}{3} $\frac{2}{3}$
\sqrt{2} $\sqrt{2}$
\sum_{i=1}^3 $\sum_{i=1}^3$
\sin \theta $\sin \theta$
\boxed{123} $\boxed{123}$

Sort by:

Specific heat capacity is a path function Only after fixing the path(process) (Specific heat capacity for a "particular " process/path) does it become a state function like Cp,Cv etc

- 1 year, 3 months ago

Why is it that when water is poured inside a rubber kettle and it put on top fire it does not melt?

- 1 year, 9 months ago

What is the specific heat capacity of water?

- 1 year, 9 months ago

4.2 J/g°C

- 1 year, 9 months ago

We just have to raise the temperature by 1 degrees and it can be done by many ways. So, according to me ,specific heat capacity is a state function.

- 2 years, 3 months ago