Energy Changes Flashcards
Exothermic and Endothermic reactions, reaction profiles and some electrolysis.
What is an Exothermic reaction?
An Exothermic reaction transfers energy to its surroundings, usually by heating. This is shown is a rise in temperature
What is an Endothermic reaction?
An Endothermic reaction absorbs energy from the surroundings, usually thermal energy. This is shown in a fall in temperature.
Examples of Exothermic reactions
Combustion Neutralisation reactions (acid + alkali) Respiration Thermit process Reactions with metals and acids
Examples of Endothermic reactions
Photosynthesis
Sherbet
Thermal decomposition
Electrolysis (some types)
Conservation of energy in chemical reactions
The amount of energy does not change. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transferred. In chemical reactions energy changes involve the surroundings.
What determines if a reaction is Exothermic?
If more energy is released through bond making than is absorbed for bond breaking the reaction is Exothermic.
What determines if a reaction is Endothermic?
If more energy is absorbed to break bonds than is released when making bonds then the reactions is Endothermic.
What are Reaction Profiles?
Reaction profiles are diagrams/graphs that show the relative energies of reactants and products in a reaction, and show how the energy changes over the course of the reaction.
What does an Exothermic reaction profile look like?
Picture
What does and Endothermic reaction profile look like?
Picture
Why does a Exothermic reaction profile look like that?
Because energy is released to the surroundings so the reactants have more energy than the products.
Why does and Endothermic reaction profile look like that?
Because energy is absorbed from the surroundings so the reactants have less energy than the products.
What occurs in a chemical reaction?
Old bonds are broken then new bonds are made, to create a new compound or molecule.
What must occur for bonds to be broken in a chemical reaction?
The reacting particles must collide with sufficient energy (activation energy).
What is the activation energy?
It is the minimum amount of energy that particles must have in order reaction to take place in a chemical.
Describe the insulated reaction method
You can measure the energy change in a chemical reaction by taking the temperature of the regents, mixing them in a polystyrene cup (insulator) and measuring the temperature of the solution at the end of the reaction.
What reactions can you use the insulated reaction method to measure energy change?
Neutralisation
Reactions between metals and acids/ carbonates and acids.
Bond breaking is…
Endothermic (absorbs/requires energy from surroundings)
Bond making is…
Exothermic (releases energy into surroundings)
What is an electrochemical cell?
A basic system made up of two different electrodes in contact with an electrolyte.
What is electrolysis?
Chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.
What are positive ions called?
Cations