Endothermic/Exothermic Reactions & Reaction Profiles

Front

What is an exothermic reaction?

Back

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat or light, resulting in a net release of energy when bonds are formed.

Front

What is an endothermic reaction?

Back

An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, resulting in a net gain of energy when bonds are broken.

Front

In a reaction profile, what do the reactants represent?

Back

The reactants are the starting substances in a chemical reaction, typically shown on the left side of a reaction profile.

Front

In a reaction profile, what do the products represent?

Back

The products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, typically shown on the right side of a reaction profile.

Front

What is the transition state in a reaction profile?

Back

The transition state is a high-energy state during a chemical reaction where old bonds are breaking and new bonds are forming.

Front

What does bond breaking require in terms of energy?

Back

Bond breaking requires energy input, making it an endothermic process.

Front

What does bond formation release in terms of energy?

Back

Bond formation releases energy, making it an exothermic process.

Front

How can you identify an exothermic reaction on a reaction profile?

Back

In an exothermic reaction profile, the energy of the products is lower than the energy of the reactants.

Front

How can you identify an endothermic reaction on a reaction profile?

Back

In an endothermic reaction profile, the energy of the products is higher than the energy of the reactants.

Front

What is the significance of the activation energy in a reaction?

Back

Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur, determining the rate of the reaction.