Question

The diagram below shows how the potential energy changes when propane reacts with oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide and water.

what can you tell about the reaction from the diagram?

Answer 1

The reaction is exothermic because the energy of
`CO_2` and
`H_2O` is less than the energy of
`C_3H_8` and
`O_2`. Option C.

In an exothermic reaction, the overall reaction releases energy, usually in the form of heat. The reactants have a higher potential energy compared to the products, and the reaction proceeds by overcoming the activation energy barrier, leading to the formation of lower-energy products.

The products have lower potential energy and are more stable than the reactants, and the overall reaction releases energy to the surroundings.

In the diagram, the energy of the products,
`CO_2` and
`H_2O`, is less than the energy of the reactants,
`C_3H_8` and
`O_2`. Thus, the reaction is exothermic.