英语翻译

题目

英语翻译
Hess's law states that the heat change of a reaction depends only on the initial ad final states of the reaction and is independent of the route by which the reaction may occur.
只要翻译最后的那一点.
is independent of the route by which the reaction may occur.
这句话,我怎么想也想不通啊?route在这里表达什么?

答案

Hess定律规定了化学反应的热效应只与反应过程的始态和终态有关,与中间步骤无关.
route这里可理解为“步骤”也就是“反应中间的那一段路径”