Question

Look at the potential energy diagram for a chemical reaction. Which statement correctly describes the energy changes that occur in the forward reaction?

Answer 1

@dan815 can you help me

Answer 2

With this question the first thing you want to note is the the potential energy of the products vs reactants. If you notice the potential energy is greater for the reactants than the products. You take the difference products - reactants and you realize that energy change is negative so that means the reaction lead to a decrease in potential energy because energy is lost to heat. So I would say it's exothermic.

Answer 3

so it would be 10kJ

Answer 4

but exothermic @Photon336

Answer 5

Thank you so much!

Answer 6

So for this you look at the PE for the reactants 40kJ and the potential energy for the products which is about 15Kj so you always subtract products-reactants to figure out the overall change (15-40) = Kj = -25KJ

Answer 7

That number means -25KJ were released. Exothermic implies a release of energy, while I believe endothermic means that you need to put in energy to get the reaction going, although for all reactions you need to overcome the Ea activation energy, minimum requirement to get the reaction going.

Answer 8

@Brittanyirvinn No problem, feel free to ask me anything