Lesson: Reaction Profiles Chemistry

In this lesson, we will learn how to read reaction profiles (energy diagrams) and identify and describe the energy transfers involved.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

understand a reaction profile,
identify where the products, reactants, transition states, and energetic barriers are on a reaction profile,
correctly label a reaction profile diagram with the energy changes , , and ,
identify whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic based on a reaction profile.

Lesson Video

Lesson Explainer

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

Shown in the reaction profile are the changes in chemical energy during a reaction.

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only changed from one form to another. Which of the following processes is least likely to occur due to the change in chemical energy shown in the figure?

Q2:

Labelled in the diagram are the chemical energies of three compounds, a–c.

Which of the labelled compounds is highest in energy?

Which of the labelled compounds is lowest in energy?

Which of the labelled compounds is most stable?

Which of the labelled compounds is least stable?

Q3:

Illustrated in the reaction profiles are the changes in chemical energy during a range of processes.

Which of the diagrams best describes the changes in chemical energy for a stick of dynamite during an explosion?

Which of the diagrams best describes the changes in chemical energy for a packet of pasta stored in a kitchen cupboard?

Which of the diagrams best describes the changes in chemical energy for a piece of aluminum being heated by a blowtorch?

Which of the diagrams best describes the changes in chemical energy for a tank of burning petrol?