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Question

What do you mean by endothermic and exothermic reaction? Justify with an example.

Endothermic and exothermic reactions are two categories of chemical reactions that are characterized by their energy changes:

  • Endothermic Reaction: An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, typically in the form of heat. This means that the total energy of the products is greater than the total energy of the reactants. As a result, the reaction container or environment often feels cold to the touch as the reaction proceeds because energy (heat) is being taken in.
  • Example of Endothermic Reaction: The process of photosynthesis in plants is a classic example of an endothermic reaction. In photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight (energy) to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

In this reaction, the energy from sunlight is absorbed and used to create chemical bonds in glucose, thus storing energy in the glucose molecules.

  • Exothermic Reaction: An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy to its surroundings, again typically in the form of heat. This means that the total energy of the reactants is greater than the total energy of the products. The excess energy is released, often causing the reaction container or environment to feel warm or hot.
  • Example of Exothermic Reaction: The combustion of natural gas (methane, CH4) is an exothermic reaction. When methane burns in the presence of oxygen, it releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light, producing carbon dioxide and water as products:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + heat energy

This reaction releases energy that can be harnessed for heating, cooking, or generating electricity.

Question

What do you mean by endothermic and exothermic reaction? Justify with an example.

science

Endothermic and exothermic reactions are two categories of chemical reactions that are characterized by their energy changes:

  • Endothermic Reaction: An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings, typically in the form of heat. This means that the total energy of the products is greater than the total energy of the reactants. As a result, the reaction container or environment often feels cold to the touch as the reaction proceeds because energy (heat) is being taken in.
  • Example of Endothermic Reaction: The process of photosynthesis in plants is a classic example of an endothermic reaction. In photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight (energy) to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

In this reaction, the energy from sunlight is absorbed and used to create chemical bonds in glucose, thus storing energy in the glucose molecules.

  • Exothermic Reaction: An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy to its surroundings, again typically in the form of heat. This means that the total energy of the reactants is greater than the total energy of the products. The excess energy is released, often causing the reaction container or environment to feel warm or hot.
  • Example of Exothermic Reaction: The combustion of natural gas (methane, CH4) is an exothermic reaction. When methane burns in the presence of oxygen, it releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light, producing carbon dioxide and water as products:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + heat energy

This reaction releases energy that can be harnessed for heating, cooking, or generating electricity.