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Explaining Activation Energy and Redox Reactions

The document explains activation energy in both exothermic and endothermic reactions, highlighting that both types require activation energy to initiate the reaction, with endothermic reactions typically needing more. It also details redox reactions, focusing on the processes of oxidation and reduction, where oxidation involves losing electrons or gaining oxygen, and reduction involves gaining electrons or losing oxygen. An example of a redox reaction is provided, illustrating the roles of oxidizing and reducing agents.

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Ellen Geronimo
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52 views3 pages

Explaining Activation Energy and Redox Reactions

The document explains activation energy in both exothermic and endothermic reactions, highlighting that both types require activation energy to initiate the reaction, with endothermic reactions typically needing more. It also details redox reactions, focusing on the processes of oxidation and reduction, where oxidation involves losing electrons or gaining oxygen, and reduction involves gaining electrons or losing oxygen. An example of a redox reaction is provided, illustrating the roles of oxidizing and reducing agents.

Uploaded by

Ellen Geronimo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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For the activation energy,

it’s just the distance from the


reactants to the maximum or peak
whether it’s endo or exothermic
Both exothermic and endothermic reactions require activation energy, the minimum energy needed to
initiate a reaction, with endothermic reactions typically having a higher activation energy than
exothermic reactions

Exothermic Reactions:

• Energy Change:

Exothermic reactions release energy into the surroundings, meaning the products have less energy than
the reactants.

• Activation Energy:

Exothermic reactions still require activation energy to initiate the reaction, even though they release
energy overall.

• Energy Diagram:

On a potential energy diagram, the products are at a lower energy level than the reactants, and the
overall energy change (ΔH) is negative.

• Example:

Burning wood is an exothermic reaction, and it requires an initial spark (activation energy) to start
burning, but once started, it releases heat.

Endothermic Reactions:

• Energy Change:

Endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surroundings, meaning the products have more energy
than the reactants.

• Activation Energy:

Endothermic reactions also require activation energy to initiate the reaction, but they require more
energy to overcome the energy barrier compared to exothermic reactions.

• Energy Diagram:

On a potential energy diagram, the products are at a higher energy level than the reactants, and the
overall energy change (ΔH) is positive.

• Example:

Melting ice is an endothermic reaction, and it requires energy input (activation energy) from the
surroundings to melt.
WHEN DEALING WITH REDOX REACTIONS, IT’S EITHER YOU LOOK AT WHETHER
ELECTRONS ARE LOST OR GAINED OR WHETHER OXYGEN IS LOST OR GAINED. IN
THE QUESTION, IT IS FOCUSING IN WHETHER THE REACTANTS GAINED OR LOSE
OXYGEN. WHEN OXYGEN IS GAINED, IT IS BEING OXIDISED, AND THIS IS ALSO THE
REDUCING AGENT. WHEN OXYGEN IS LOST, IT IS BEING REDUCED, AND THIS IS
ALSO THE OXIDISING AGENT.
• Reaction: The chemical equation for this reaction is CuO + H₂ → Cu + H₂O.

• Oxidation: A process where a substance loses electrons or gains oxygen.


Hydrogen (H₂) gains oxygen to form water (H₂O), therefore hydrogen is oxidized.

• Reduction: A process where a substance gains electrons or loses oxygen.


Copper oxide (CuO) loses oxygen to form copper (Cu), therefore copper oxide is reduced.

• Redox Reaction:

This reaction is a redox reaction, meaning that oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously.

• Oxidizing and Reducing Agents:

In this reaction, copper oxide (CuO) acts as the oxidizing agent (it causes the oxidation of hydrogen) and
hydrogen (H₂) acts as the reducing agent (it causes the reduction of copper oxide).

In a redox reaction, the substance being oxidized is the reducing agent (it loses
electrons or gains oxygen), and the substance being reduced is the oxidizing agent
(it gains electrons or loses oxygen).
OIL RIG- Oxidation is Loss, Reduction is Gain →THIS FOR ELECTRONS
BUT FOR OXYGEN, OXIDISED MEANS GAIN OXYGEN, REDUCED MEANS LOSS OF
OXYGEN

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