Endothermic Reactions and Reaction Profiles

Endothermic Reactions

Endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surroundings, often resulting in a temperature decrease. These reactions are less common than exothermic ones.

Definition: An endothermic reaction is a reaction that takes in energy from the surroundings.

Example: The reaction between citric acid and sodium hydrogencarbonate is an endothermic process.

Other examples of endothermic reactions include:

• Thermal decomposition

Highlight: Endothermic reactions have practical applications, such as in instant ice packs that cool without refrigeration.

Reaction Profiles

Reaction profiles visually represent the energy changes during chemical reactions. They show:

• Relative energies of reactants and products
• Energy changes throughout the reaction progress
• Whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic

Vocabulary: Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed for reactants to collide and initiate a reaction.

Reaction profiles illustrate key differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions:

• Exothermic reactions: Energy of products is lower than reactants, resulting in a negative overall energy change
• Endothermic reactions: Energy of products is higher than reactants, leading to a positive overall energy change

Highlight: Reaction profiles provide a visual representation of energy changes in chemistry, helping to distinguish between exothermic and endothermic reactions.

Energy Transfer in Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

Chemical reactions involve energy changes as chemicals store varying amounts of energy. The energy transfer between reactants, products, and surroundings determines whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic.

Exothermic Reactions

Exothermic reactions transfer energy to the surroundings, typically manifested as a temperature rise. Common examples include:

• Burning fuels
• Neutralization reactions
• Many oxidation reactions

Definition: An exothermic reaction is a reaction that transfers energy to the surroundings.

Example: Hand warmers and heating systems utilize exothermic reactions to generate heat.

Practical Measurement

To measure energy transfer and determine if a reaction is exothermic or endothermic:

1. Measure the initial temperature of reagents
2. Place them in an insulated environment
3. Allow the reaction to occur
4. Measure the final temperature

Highlight: This practical method helps identify whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic based on temperature changes.