Reaction Profiles Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
What is meant by activation energy?
The minimum amount of energy that particles must have to react (the energy needed for a reaction to occur).
What two conditions must be met for reacting particles to react?
They must collide with each other, and collide with at least the activation energy.
How does a reaction profile show that a reaction is exothermic?
The products line is below the reactants line — the products have less energy than the reactants.
On a reaction profile, between which two points is the activation energy drawn?
From the reactants line up to the top (peak) of the curve.
What are the steps to draw a reaction profile for an exothermic reaction?
e.g. the combustion of methane
- Draw the reactants level on the left and the products level lower down on the right.
- Join them with a curved line that rises to a peak, then falls to the products.
- Label the activation energy (reactants to peak) and the overall energy change (reactants level to products level).
How does a reaction profile for an endothermic reaction differ from one for an exothermic reaction?
The products level is above the reactants level, so the overall energy change arrow points upwards.
What is shown on the vertical axis of a reaction profile?
Energy (the horizontal axis shows the progress of the reaction).