Question

What is a state function?

Answer 1

Is a function defined for a system relating several state variables or state quantities that depends only on the current equilibrium thermodynamic state of the system[1] (e.g. gas, liquid, solid, crystal, or emulsion), not the path which the system took to reach its present state. A state function describes the equilibrium state of a system, thus also describing the type of system. For example, a state function could describe an atom or molecule in a gaseous, liquid, or solid form; a heterogeneous or homogeneous mixture; and the amounts of energy required to create such systems or change them into a different equilibrium state.