What is defined as the total energy of molecular motion?

The total energy of molecular motion is defined as temperature. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. When temperature increases, it indicates that the particles are moving faster, resulting in higher energy due to their motion. This relationship underlines how temperature serves as an indicator of the energy states of molecules.

Heat, while related to energy transfer between substances, specifically refers to the energy that is exchanged due to a temperature difference. Enthalpy is a thermodynamic quantity that includes internal energy and energy associated with pressure and volume, but it is not solely about molecular motion. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, refers to the energy of motion of an object and doesn’t specifically encompass the concept of temperature as it relates to molecular motion.