Question

Which of the following properties is not a thermodynamic property of the system?
(A) pressure
(B) temperature
(C) specific volume
(D) heat

Answer 1

Hint : The characteristics of a system by which it can be specified are called thermodynamic properties. Thermodynamic properties can be divided into two categories: intensive properties and extensive properties. If properties are independent of the amount of mass present, they are called intensive properties. If properties are dependent on the amount of mass present, they are called extensive properties.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
A thermodynamic property is measurable and its value describes the state of the system. Among the given quantities, heat does not describe the state of a system. Because a system does not contain heat but can only transfer the heat. So, it is not a thermodynamic property. The thermodynamic state of a system can be defined by specifying values of a set of measurable properties which are sufficient to determine all the other properties. For example, for a fluid system, the typical properties are volume, pressure and temperature. If the units of specific properties are changed from per mass to, say, per mole, the property would remain as it was i.e. intensive or extensive.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Note :
Note that heat and work are not thermodynamic properties but are process quantities. This is because systems do not contain work but they can perform work. Similarly, systems do not contain heat but can transfer heat. Altitude is not a thermodynamic property because it can help in specifying the location of a system but it does not describe the state of the system.