c5 - energy changes

• exothermic reactions 


  transfers energy from the reacting molecules to the surroundings

  temperature of the surroundings increases
• examples of exothermic reactions

  1. combustion (burning)
  2. oxidation reactions
  3. neutralisation
• endothermic reactions


  endothermic reactions take in energy from the surroundings

  temperature of the surroundings decreases
• activation energy


  the minimum amount of energy that particles must have in order to react

  activation energy is from the reactant to the peak of the curve