What happens when the energy of the product of a chemical reaction is greater than the reactants? Why?

Question

aaronq · Answer

what happens in terms of what?

anonymous · Answer

The entire question is, if the energy of the products in a chemical reaction is greater than the energy of the reactants, the difference will be _____, which means that _____.

Thanks! I've been stuck on this question on my homework.

aaronq · Answer

|dw:1379447741050:dw|

They're referring to energy as Gibb's free energy (G). Some things can be said about an endergonic reaction ($\Delta G=+ve$). Energy is taken from the surroundings by the system, the reaction is not spontaneous.

anonymous · Answer

I'm afraid I'm a little confused, how would I use this to answer the question?

aaronq · Answer

a plausible answer could be "the difference [in energy] will be $\sf\color{red}{positive}$, which means that the reaction is $\sf\color{red}{non-spontaneous}$."

i can't really see other words that would fit into the blanks

aaronq · Answer

or .. "the difference [in energy] will be positive, which means that energy is taken from the surroundings."

anonymous · Answer

Okay! Thank you so much!

aaronq · Answer

no problem, i hope that works out.