Difference between internal energy and enthalpy

Internal energy and enthalpy are two thermodynamic properties that describe the state of a
system, but they are not the same thing.

Internal energy, denoted by U, is the total energy of the molecules that make up a system. It
is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies of all the particles in the system, including
electrons, nuclei, and molecules. Internal energy is a state function, which means it depends
only on the initial and final states of the system and not on how the system got there.

Enthalpy, denoted by H, is defined as the sum of the internal energy and the product of
pressure and volume. H = U + PV. Enthalpy is also a state function and is related to the heat
absorbed or released during a process at constant pressure. When a system undergoes a
process at constant pressure, the enthalpy change, ΔH, is equal to the heat absorbed or
released by the system, q.

In other words, enthalpy takes into account not only the internal energy of a system, but also
the work that can be done by the system as it expands or contracts. This makes it a more
useful thermodynamic property for describing processes that occur at constant pressure,
which is often the case in chemical reactions and industrial processes.

In summary, internal energy is the total energy of the molecules in a system, while enthalpy
is the sum of the internal energy and the product of pressure and volume. Enthalpy is a more
useful thermodynamic property for processes that occur at constant pressure, such as
chemical reactions.