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In a particular chemical reaction, the energy of the reactants is 30 kJ and the energy of the products is 5 kJ. The maximum energy of the system is 40 kJ.What is the activation energy for this reaction?What is the enthalpy change for this reaction?Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic? Explain your answer using the energy values.

User Roomey
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1 Answer

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Step-by-step explanation:

In an exothermic reaction the energy of the products is lower than the energy of the reactants, and the excess of energy is released to the surroundings. In our problem, the energy of the reactants is 30 kJ and the energy of the products is 5 kJ, then our reaction is exothermic. With this information we can also find the enthalpy change of this reaction.

Potential energy of the products = 5 kJ

Potential energy of the reactants = 30 kJ

Enthalpy change of reaction = energy of products - energy of reactants

Enthalpy change of reaction = 5 kJ - 30 kJ

Enthalpy change of reaction = -25 kJ

Since ΔH of reaction < 0 ----> exothermic

The activation energy is the extra energy that the reactants will need in order to cross the energy barrier to become products. The maximum energy of the system during the reaction was 40 kJ. So the reactants had to reach that "point" of energy to become products. The difference between that point and the energy of the reactants is the activation energy.

activation energy = maximum energy of the system - energy of the reactants

activation energy = 40 kJ - 30 kJ

activation energy = 10 kJ

Answers:

Enthalpy change of reaction = -25 kJ

ΔH of reaction < 0 ----> exothermic

Activation energy = 10 kJ

User Xavier Poinas
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