4.

1 Endothermic & Exothermic

 Reactions that absorb heat energy from
the surroundings.
 When an endothermic reaction occurs:
a) Heat energy is absorbed and is
transferred to the reactants
b) The reaction mixture and the
container becomes cold
c) The temperatures of the reaction
mixture and the container fall
d) The heat energy chemical energy
Examples of Endothermic
reaction involving physical
changes
 The dissolving of ammonia salts such
as ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and
ammonium sulphate, (NH4)2SO4 in
water.
 The dissolving of crystalline salts
such as hydrated copper(II) sulphate,
(CuSO4.5H2O), hydrated magnesium
sulphate (MgSO4.7H2O) and hydrated
sodium carbontae (Na2CO3.10H2O)
 Melting process (solid liquid)
 Evaporation & boiling processes
(liquid  gas)
Examples of endothermic
reactions involving
chemical changes
 The reaction between acids and sodium
or potassium hydrogen carbonate.

 Thermal decomposition of metal

carbonates, metal nitrates and
ammonium chloride

 Photosynthesis
The Energy Level
Diagrams for Endothermic
Reactions
 The total energy content of the products
is higher than the total energy content
of the reactants. This means that the
value of ∆H for an endothermic reaction
is positive (+ve).

∆H = Hproducts – Hreactants
= positive if Hproducts > Hreactants
 Reactions that release heat energy to
the surroundings.
 When an exothermic reaction occurs:
a) Heat is released and is transferred
from the reactants to the
surroundings.
b) The reaction mixture and the
container become hot.
c) The temperatures of the reaction
mixture and the container rise.
d) Chemical energy  heat energy.
Examples of exothermic
reactions involving
physical changes
 Condensation process (gas  liquid)
 Sublimation (gas  solid)
 Freezing @ solidification process
(liquid  solid)
 The dissolving of alkalis and acids in
water
 The dissolving of anhydrous salts,
such as anhydrous copper(II) sulphate
(Cu SO4) and anhydrous sodium
carbonate (Na2CO3) in water.
Examples of exothermic
reactions involving
chemical changes
 Combustion of fuels
 Oxidation of food in respiration process
 Rusting of iron
 Dissolving soluble bases (metal oxides)
in water
 Neutralisation reactions between acids
and bases
 Reaction between acids and metals or
metal carbonates
 Displacement reaction of a metal from
its salt solution by a more reactive metal
 Haber process (manufacture of ammonia)
 Contact process (production of sulphur
trioxide)
The Energy Level
Diagrams for Exothermic
Reactions
 The total energy content of the products
is lower than the total energy content
of the reactants. Hence, the ∆H value of
an exothermic reaction is negative (-
ve).

 ∆H = Hproducts – Hreactants
= negative if Hproducts < Hreactants