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ENERGETICS What is Energetics Energy Changes In Chemical Reactions I. Thermochemistry Thermochemistry is concerned with the heat changes that accompany chemical changes and /or phase changes.

Notes: 1. Energy is a measure of capacity to do work. It exists in many different forms, e.g. chemical energy, light energy, electrical energy and heat. 2. In most chemical and physical changes, there is an associated energy change. The study of these energies is known as energetic. 3. The energy changes occurring in chemical reactions are usually reflected as heat changes. I. Conservation of Energy The first law of thermodynamic ( or law of conservation of energy ) states that energy may be converted from one form to another, but it is never created nor destroyed.

Note: The total energy of a system and its surroundings is constant. The usual form in which energy exchanged in chemical reaction is as heat, which causes temperature changes. II. Enthalpy Changes In thermochemistry, all substances are said to possess a heat content or enthalpy, H. For a reaction carried out at constant pressure (usually at atmospheric pressure in an open container ), and if no other work is involved, the heat absorbed or evolved is called the enthalpy change. The enthalpy change of reaction is the heat exchange ( either absorption or release ) with the surroundings at constant pressure before and after the reaction. H = Hp (enthalpy of products ) - Hr (enthalpy of reactants)

III.

Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions With respect to enthalpy change, reactions can be classified into exothermic and endothermic reactions. - For an exothermic reaction ( heat given out to the surroundings ), H is negative. - For an endothermic reaction ( heat absorbed from the surroundings ), H is positive.

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The following table compares exothermic and endothermic reactions: Exothermic reaction Definition Enthalpy of products and reactants A reaction in which heat is released to the surroundings. Endothermic reaction A reaction in which heat is absorbed from the surroundings. Hp > Hr Energy is being stored in the products as chemical energy. Postive The temperature decreases. Since the temperature of the surroundings is now higher than that of the reaction mixture, energy flows into the reaction mixture. Once the reaction is complete, the temperature rises.

Hp < Hr The energy stored in the reactants as chemical energy is converted into heat. Negative The temperature increases and this energy is transferred to the surroundings. Once the reaction is complete, the temperature of reaction mixture falls. -

Enthalpy change H Temperature of reaction mixtures

Enthalpy level diagram

Selected examples

Combustion reactions Precipitation Displacement reactions Acid- alkali reactions

Cracking Melting of solid Boiling and evaporation of liquid

In an exothermic reaction, the energy released from the reacting system flows into the surroundings. According to the law of conservation of energy, this same amount of energy is gained by the surroundings. This is because energy can be neither be created or destroyed but can be transferred. The energy of the universe is constant.