Final answer:
Potential energy diagrams are used to represent the energy changes in a chemical reaction. Endothermic reactions have an uphill energy curve and absorb energy, while exothermic reactions have a downhill energy curve and release energy. The sign of the enthalpy change indicates if the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Potential energy diagrams are used to represent the energy changes that occur during a chemical reaction. By plotting the potential energy on the y-axis and the reaction progress on the x-axis, these diagrams show the change in potential energy as reactants are converted into products.
An endothermic reaction is represented by an uphill energy curve, where the reactants have lower potential energy than the products. This indicates that the reaction absorbs energy from its surroundings. An exothermic reaction, on the other hand, is represented by a downhill energy curve, where the reactants have higher potential energy than the products. This indicates that the reaction releases energy to its surroundings.
The sign of the enthalpy change (ΔH) is positive for an endothermic reaction and negative for an exothermic reaction. This reflects the energy flow in the reaction, with endothermic reactions absorbing energy from the surroundings and exothermic reactions releasing energy to the surroundings.