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In a reversible reaction, the endothermic reaction absorbs ____________ the exothermic reaction releases.

A. None of these, endothermic reactions release energy
B. more energy than
C. the same amount of energy as
D. less energy than

User Igor Gatis
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Answer:

C. the same amount of energy as

Step-by-step explanation:

Firstly, a chemical reaction can either absorb energy from its surroundings to occur or release energy into its surroundings as a product. The former and latter descriptions are called ENDOTHERMIC and EXOTHERMIC reactions respectively. An exothermic reaction is that which transfers energy, in form of heat, to its surroundings while an Endothermic reaction is that which absorbs energy (heat) from its surroundings.

However, a reversible reaction is that reaction in which the formation of products from reactants and reformation of the reactants from products occur simultaneously. Hence, the products of a reversible reaction can become the reactants and move in the opposite direction. For example:

Reversible reaction: A + B ⇆ C + D means;

A + B → C + D and;

C + D → A + B

In a case whereby the opposite reactions consist of an endothermic and exothermic reactions, the endothermic reaction absorbs the same amount of energy as the exothermic reaction releases.

According to the law of conservation of energy, no energy is lost during a reversible reaction. Hence, in order to achieve an equilibrium, the amount of energy absorbed by the endothermic reaction is the same as the amount of energy released in the opposite exothermic reaction.

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