Like values, the products of the work reveal in the change a social existence under identical form, different from their material existence and under diverse forms, like utility objects. Merchandise express its value by the circumstance of being able to change on the other. To put it another way, due to appearing only that way like value of change and. If the value is revealed in the change relation, this it does not generate value. On the contrary, the value of the merchandise is the one that regulates its relations of change and determines its relations with the others. This will be included/understood better with a comparison: A bulk of salt is heavy although its aspect does not indicate it and less still it specifies his real weight. We consider several copper laminae of weight already known.
The material form of copper like the one of the salt, is not either by itself an indication of its own weight; the put copper laminae in relation to the bulk of salt, will present to us the weight this last one. Thus then, the magnitude of its weight, that did not appear considered, the bulk of salt separately, are revealed when putting it in relation to copper: But the relation of weight between copper and the salt is not the cause of the existence of the weight of the salt. On the contrary, that weight is the one that establishes the relation. Of another side, the one of copper with the salt it is possible because both, although they are different by his use, they have a common property: the weight. In that relation, the copper is only considered like a body that represents weight. It is done without his other properties that and serves solely as measured as weight. Analogous, when expressing a value anyone for example, fifteen meters of linen is worth a suit the second merchandise only represents value.