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If the temperature does not change during a chemical reaction, what does this tell you about the energy needed to break apart the reactants to form the products?​

User Modulitos
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Final answer:

A constant temperature during a reaction suggests that the energy used to break bonds in reactants is exactly balanced by the energy released when forming products, resulting in a change in enthalpy of zero and no net energy change.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the temperature does not change during a chemical reaction, this indicates that the energy required to break the bonds of the reactants is equal to the energy released when new bonds are formed in the products. This situation is characteristic of a reaction that has a change in enthalpy of zero, meaning there is no net energy change in the system. A reaction where the energy to break and form bonds is balanced will not exhibit a temperature change because no excess heat is being absorbed or released. The enthalpy change reflects the balance of energy during the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. In an exothermic reaction, energy is released overall, manifesting as a temperature increase, while in an endothermic reaction overall energy is absorbed, leading to a temperature decrease.

User BKM
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