ENERGY CHANGES
During chemical reactions, energy in the form of heat or light can either be absorbed or released to the
environment. This energy is measured in Kj/mol. Energy is stored in bonds as chemical potential
energy.during reactions bonds are broken and new ones are formed.
Types of energy changes
Exothermic reactions: reactions that release energy to the surroundings/environment
Endothermic reactions: reactions that absorb energy from the surroundings/environment
Experiment to determine exothermic and endothermic reactions
Use of thermometer: if the during the reaction the thermometer shows an increase in temperature, then
the reaction is exothermic and a decrease in temperature shows endothermic reaction.
Examples of Exothermic and Endothermic reactions
Exothermic reactions Endothermic reactions
-Respiration -Photosynthesis
-.Burning/combustion of fuels (coal,petrol, gas, -Thermal decomposition of metal carbonates
wood etc -Thermal dissociation of ammonium salts.
-reactions of reactive metals with water - reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate with
- reactions of moderate metals with dilute acids dilute HCl.
- Dehydration of sugar with concentrated sulphuric - Decomposition of silver salts in photography-
acid silver salts are used to make photographic films.
They decompose and become dark when exposed
to light
NB 1: Dissolving sodium hydroxide pellets, diluting acids and freezing are exothermic processes but not
reactions
NB 2: Dissolving of ammonium salts and Melting of ice are endothermic processes but not reactions
Characteristics of exo and endo thermic reactions
Exothermic Endothermic
-energy out -energy in
-bond making/new bonds formed for products -bond breaking of reactants
-delta ‘H’/ H/ change in enthalpy/change in energy -delta ‘H’/ H /change in enthalpy/change in energy
is negative is positive
- The overall energy change for the reaction is - The overall energy change for the reaction is
exothermic if the Energy of reactants higher than endothermic if the Energy of reactants lower than
that of products that of products.
Eg 1
Use the reaction equation below to give two reasons of whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic
1
CH4 + O2 CO2 + H2O ∆H = -1128 Kj/mol
Answer: Exothermic reaction
Reasons: 1. combustion reactions(reactions with oxygen) are exothermic
2. The overall energy change/ ∆H is negative
NB: 1 For the overall reaction to be EXOTHERMIC, the energy of bond formation must be greater
than the energy of bond breaking
2. For the overall reaction to be ENDOTHERMIC, the energy of bond formation must be less
than the energy of bond breaking
Chemical reactions involve breaking of old bonds and formation of new bonds.
Reactants Products
Involves bond breaking Involves bond formation
(Endothermic) (Exothermic)
Eg 2 Explain using bond making and bond formation why
(a) C2H6 + O2 CO2 + H 2O is exothermic?
Answer:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) AgBr Ag + Br2 is endothermic? Answer:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Energy level diagrams
They show the energy content of reactants and products in exothermic and endothermic reactions.
a) Exothermic reactions: Energy of reactants is always greater/higher than energy of products
hence the energy diagram is as follows;
reactants
energy in kj ∆H is - negative
products
2
progress of reaction
b) Endothermic reaction
Energy of reactants is lower than energy of products as shown below.
products
energy in kj
∆H is + positive
reactants
progress of reaction
Activation energy
It is the minimum energy required to start the chemical reaction.
Some reaction may need energy from an external source to break few bonds before the reaction
may start. Activation energy may be shown on the energy level diagram as follows;
For exothermic reaction
Activation energy Ea
reatants
∆H is -
products
For endothermic reaction
products
Ea
∆H is + positive
Reactants
3
Finding ∆H from bond energies
Energy is stored in the bonds of compounds. Each type of bond (single, double, triple) has its specific
amount of energy required to break it or form it.
NB:Triple bonds has the largest bond energy followed by double and lastly single bond
with the lowest bond energy.
This bond energies may be used to calculate the heat of reaction (∆H)/overall energy for the reaction
using the following equation;
∆H = energy of reactants + energy of products
( Positive ) ( negative )
Exercise
1. Sketch a labeled energy level diagram with activation energy for a reaction with;
a. ∆H= -3462 Kj
b. ∆H= +2334 Kj
Finding ∆H from bond energies
Energy is stored in the bonds of compounds. Each type of bond (single, double, triple)
has its specific amount of energy required to break it or form it.
This bond energies may be used to calculate the heat of reaction (∆H) using the following
equation;
∆H = energy of reactants + energy of products
OR
∆H = +endothermic reaction +(-exothermic reaction)
= +endothermic reaction
4 - exothermic reaction
Table of bond energies
Bond Energy(Kj/mol)
H-H 436
H-O 464
H-Cl 431
H-I 299
Cl-Cl 242
Br-Br 193
O=O 297
C-H 435
N≡N 945
C=O 803
C-Cl 339
QUESTION 1.
For the following reaction, show the structural formula and find the heat of reaction(∆H) then
state whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
CH4 + O2 CO2 + H2O
Solution
Balance the equation first;
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2 H2O
Show the structural formula-shows all the bonds
H-C-H + 2O=O O=C=O + 2H-O-H
5
H
Calculate total energy for reactants (endothermic) and products (exothermic).
a) Reactants
∆H= 4(C-H) + 2(O=O)
4(435) + 2(297)
= +2334 Kj (endothermic)
b) Products
∆H= 2(C=O) + 4(H-O)
2(803) + 4(464)
= -3462 Kj (exothermic)
Calculate overall ∆H.
∆H = Energy of reactants + energy of products
= Endo + (-Exo)
= +2334 - 3462
= -1128 Kj/mol
Therefore; CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O ∆H = -1128 Kj/mol
The reaction is exothermic because ∆H is negative.
Exercise(test yourself)
1. For the reaction; CH4 + Cl2 CH3Cl + HCl
a) Determine whether the reaction s exothermic or endothermic
b) Sketch the energy level diagram for the reaction.
2. Hydrogen reacts with chlorine giving hydrogen chloride gas as shown below;
H2 + Cl2 2HCl
a) Show the structural equation for the reaction.
6
b) Which bonds are broken and which ones are formed?
c) What is the heat of reaction (∆H)?
d) Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic?
Energy changes and moles
Energy absorbed can be expressed in KJ/g and more accurately in KJ/mol.
.eg.10g of methane burns in air giving -408 KJ of energy.
a) Find out the energy produced in KJ/g and KJ/mol.
Solution
i) In KJ/g
∆H = -408 KJ
10g
= -40.8 KJ/g
ii) In KJ/mol; calculate moles of methane first.
Mole CH4 = 10g (mass)
16g/mol (RMM)
= 0.625 moles
Therefore; ∆H = -408 KJ
0.625 moles
= -652.8 KJ/mol
NB: The above answer shows that one mole of CH4 gives -652.8 KJ.(1mol : -652.8KJ)
Exercise (test yourself)
The energy available from combustion of methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) are 890KJ/mol and
1560 KJ/ mol respectively.
a) Calculate the energy available from combustion of ;
i) 0.24 moles of CH4 in KJ.
7
ii) 3 moles of C2H6 in KJ.
b) Are the reactions Exothermic or Endothermic? Explain your answer.
HOMEWORK
1. Chemical reactions can either be classified as exothermic or endothermic.
Define each of the terms in terms of: enthalpy (ΔH), bond breaking and formation, and
specific examples
2.The following equation represents the formation of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen in
the Haber process.
3H2 + N2 ↔ 2NH3
The table below shows some bond energies for the reactants and products
Bond Bond energy in kJ
N≡N 945
H−H 436
N−H 390
a. Write a structural equation showing all the bonds.
b. Calculate the total energy needed to break all the bonds in the reactants.
c. Calculate the total energy needed to form all the bonds in the products.
d. Calculate the total energy change, ΔH, for the reaction?
e. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? Give a reason for your answer.
f. Draw the energy level diagram for the reaction
