Question

For the chemical reaction H2 + CO2 → H2O + CO, the energy contained in the reactants is 352 kJ, and the energy contained in the products is 394 kJ, assuming 1 mol of each substance is present. Which of the following statements is true?

A. 42 kJ is released, and the reaction is exothermic.

B. 42 kJ is released, and the reaction is endothermic.

C. 42 kJ is absorbed, and the reaction is exothermic.

D. 42 kJ is absorbed, and the reaction is endothermic.

Answer 1

D. 42 kJ is absorbed, and the reaction is endothermic.

Step-by-step explanation:

A reaction is endothermic when energy is absorbed by the environment during the process, and therefore the products of the reaction have more energy than the reactants.

In this case, we see that the reactants have 352 kJ of energy, while the products have 394 kJ of energy: so, the products have more energy than the reactants, and the reaction is endothermic (therefore, energy has been absorbed).