Energy changes exothermic and endothermic reactions

An exothermic reaction gives out heat energy. The surroundings (including any thermometer) get hotter. This is because chemical energy is being converted into heat energy during the reaction. Energy is taken in to break bonds in the reactants, but a greater amount of energy is given out when new bonds in the products are made. e.g. combustion/burning e.g. of fuels respiration (supplies energy for the body) many oxidation reactions (e.g. rusting) neutralisation reactions An endothermic reaction requires energy to be supplied to get it to go. The heat energy is taken in, and converted to chemical energy, so the surroundings (including any thermometer) gets colder. More energy is required to break the necessary bonds in the reactants than is given out when the new bonds in the products are formed. e.g. photosynthesis - doesnt go without light energy supplied thermal decompositions - dont go unless heated continuously
traditional lime kiln

Practical uses of

exothermic

reactions:

hand warmers

non-reusable
reusable

self-heating cans

Practical uses of

endothermic

reactions:

Product Description Instant Ice Packs are activated by squeezing an internal compartment within the pack. This starts a chemical reaction that instantly makes the pack cold. The Instant Ice Pack stays cold for up to 30 minutes, making it ideal for the early treatment of sports injuries.

Some reactions are irreversible once the reaction has taken place, it cant be undone. e.g. a cooked egg cant turn back into a raw one e.g. the waste gases propelling a rocket cant turn back into rocket fuel
We use a single arrow in the equations for these reactions: e.g.

CaCO3 limestone

CaO + CO2 quicklime

Other reactions are reversible. They can proceed in either direction reactants turning into products, or products turning into reactants. We use a double arrow in equations for these reactions: e.g.

N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3 nitrogen hydrogen ammonia

Some examples: Ammonia reacts with hydrogen chloride (both colourless gases) to form white clouds of ammonium chloride. Ammonium chloride is a white crystalline solid, but if you sniff it you can smell ammonia distinctly. This is because ammonium chloride is reacting to make ammonia and hydrogen chloride.

NH3(g) +

HCl(g)

NH4Cl(s)

dishes of ammonia and hydrogen chloride, opened side by side

Cobalt chloride crystals are blue, but turn pink when they become damp. Drying the crystals with a hair-dryer turns them blue again. This can be used as a test for the presence of water.

wet

dry

CoCl2.2H2O + 4 H2O CoCl2.6H2O

The well-known blue crystals of copper sulphate contain water bonded into the structure of the crystals. We call this hydrated copper sulphate.

If heated continuously, blue copper sulphate crystals turn into a white powder, giving off steam in the process. The white powder is called anhydrous copper sulphate. The solid contains no water. The reaction is endothermic heat is required to keep it going.

The reaction is also reversible. White anhydrous copper sulphate turns into blue hydrated copper sulphate if water is added. This is the reverse reaction. It is also exothermic the heat being produced can be seen as steam and heard as a hissing and spitting when the water is added.

Anhydrous copper sulphate is used as a test for water. The steam shows the reaction is exothermic.