Exothermic and endothermic reaction

• Exothermic reaction

  Reaction that transfers energy from the reacting molecules to the surroundings, causing the temperature of the surroundings to increase
• Endothermic reaction


  Reaction that takes in energy from the surroundings, causing the temperature of the surroundings to decrease
• Energy profile diagram

  1. Shows the energy changes that take place in a reaction

  2. Reactants have more energy than products in exothermic reactions

  3. Products have more energy than reactants in endothermic reactions

  4. Difference in energy between reactants and products is the energy released/absorbed
• Uses of exothermic reactions

  • Hand warmers
  • Self-heating cans
• Activation energy

  Minimum amount of energy particles must have in order to react
• Representing activation energy on energy profile diagram

  Activation energy is the energy from reactants to the peak of the curve