By convention, the enthalpy of each element in its standard state is assigned a value of zero. If pure preparations of compounds or ions are not possible, then special further conventions are defined. Regardless, if each reactant and product can be prepared in its respective standard state, then the contribution of each species is equal to its molar enthalpy of formation multiplied by its stoichiometric coefficient in the reaction, and the enthalpy of reaction at constant (standard) pressure P ⊖ ⊖ and constant temperature (usually 298 K) may be written as