Energetics

BY: JOSE SUTER

Exothermic and Endothermic

When chemical reactions take place, chemical bonds are broken in the reactants and new chemical bonds are formed in the products. It is as a result of these processes that a reaction is overall exothermic (energy is given out to the surroundings) or overall endothermic (energy is absorbed from the surroundings).

Bond breaking as endothermic and bond forming as exothermic

As breaking bonds requires energy the process is endothermic - energy is used up in breaking the bonds, so the surroundings get cooler as heat energy is used up.

As the bonds form to create the energetically products, energy is released, which means that the surroundings warm up, so thats exothermic.

Exothermic Energy Level Diagram

During a chemical reaction energy is either taken in or given out. This means that the energy of the products will be lower than the energy of the reactants. This can be represented using an energy level diagram.

Endothermic Energy Level Diagram

During endothermic reactions energy is taken in. This means the energy of the products will be higher than the energy of the reactants. This energy-level diagram above shows energy has been absorbed in the reaction - is it endothermic.

Activation Energy

The energy curve goes up from the reactants energy level to begin with, then drops to the products energy level. This is because many reactions need an input of energy to start the reaction off. This is energy is called the activation energy. It is represented on an energy level diagram as the difference between the reactants energy level and the top of the curve.

Reminder

Breaking bonds requires energy, you have to put heat in - it is endothermic. This is why melting and boiling are endothermic. Making bonds gives out energy - it is exothermic. This is why freezing and condensing are exothermic In a chemical reaction you need to put energy in to break bonds in the reactants. You get energy out when new bonds are formed to make the products.