Understanding chemical reactions and their energy changes is crucial for chemistry students. Exothermic and endothermic reactions form the foundation of energy transfer in chemical processes, with distinct characteristics and real-world applications.
• Energy transfer in chemical reactions involves either releasing energy to surroundings (exothermic) or absorbing energy from surroundings (endothermic)
• Reaction profiles demonstrate the energy changes throughout reactions, including activation energy and overall energy change
• Bond breaking and formation processes determine whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic
• Practical applications include hand warmers (exothermic) and instant ice packs (endothermic)