energy
a Initially, the system a copper penny and concentrated nitric acid is at atmospheric pressure. b When the penny is added to the nitric acid, the volume of NO2 gas that is formed causes the piston to move upward to maintain the system at atmospheric pressure. In doing so, the system is performing work on its surroundings. The symbol E in represents the internal energy of a system, which is the sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of all its components. It is the change in internal energy that produces heat plus work. To measure the energy changes that occur in chemical reactions, chemists usually use a related thermodynamic quantity calledenthalpy H from the Greek enthalpein, meaning to warm . The enthalpy of a system is defined as the sum of its internal energy E plus the product of its pressure Pand volume V:.