Standard State

Standard state refers to a specific set of conditions used as a reference point in chemistry to compare different substances. Typically, it involves a temperature of 25°C (77°F) and a pressure of 1 atmosphere (atm). For pure substances, the standard state is usually their most stable form at these conditions, whether solid, liquid, or gas. This consistency allows scientists to accurately measure and compare properties like energy, reactivity, or concentration across different experiments and reactions. It ensures that when chemists talk about a substance’s behavior in standard state, they’re all referencing the same baseline conditions.