Video Transcript
Illustrated in the reaction profile are the changes in chemical energy during a reaction as the reactant molecules are converted to products. Based on the reaction profile, is energy absorbed or released during the reaction?
In order for us to answer this question, we need to first identify how the reaction profile is related to a chemical reaction. In a chemical reaction, there are reactants on the left-hand side of the arrow. And when the chemical reaction occurs, products are formed, which are on the right-hand side of the arrow. When relating a chemical reaction to the reaction profile, the same holds true. Reactants are on the left-hand side of the reaction profile, and products are on the right-hand side.
When comparing reactants to products, an endothermic reaction occurs when the energy of the products is higher compared to the energy of the reactants. This means that energy is absorbed. When looking at an exothermic reaction, the energy of the products is lower compared to the energy of the reactants, meaning that energy is released. When observing the reaction profile within this problem, we should note that the energy of the products is higher. And therefore the energy is being absorbed as the reactants transition to the products. Therefore, based upon the reaction profile, energy is being absorbed during the reaction.
