Exothermic Reactions
Jean Brainard, Ph.D.
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Printed: January 3, 2014
AUTHOR
Jean Brainard, Ph.D.
www.ck12.org
C ONCEPT
Concept 1. Exothermic Reactions
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Exothermic Reactions
• Define exothermic reaction.
• Describe the role of energy in exothermic reactions.
• Give examples of exothermic reactions.
This mushroom cloud was produced in a 1953 nuclear bomb test in Nevada. There’s no doubt that the explosion
gave off a huge amount of energy. Although not as impressive as nuclear reactions, many chemical reactions also
give off energy. These reactions are called exothermic reactions.
What Is an Exothermic Reaction?
All chemical reactions involve energy. Energy is used to break bonds in reactants, and energy is released when new
bonds form in products. In some chemical reactions, called endothermic reactions, less energy is released when
new bonds form in the products than is needed to break bonds in the reactants. The opposite is true of exothermic
reactions. In an exothermic reaction, it takes less energy to break bonds in the reactants than is released when new
bonds form in the products.
Energy Change in Exothermic Reactions
The word exothermic literally means “turning out heat.” Energy, often in the form of heat, is released as an exothermic reaction proceeds. This is illustrated in the Figure 1.1. The general equation for an exothermic reaction is:
Reactants → Products + Energy
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FIGURE 1.1
Note: ∆H represents the change in energy.
If the energy produced in an exothermic reaction is released as heat, it results in a rise in temperature. As a result,
the products are likely to be warmer than the reactants. That’s what happens in the exothermic reaction at the URL
below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa/chemreac/energychangesrev1.shtml
Q: You turn on the hot water faucet, and hot water pours out. How does the water get hot? Do you think that an
exothermic reaction might be involved?
A: A hot water heater increases the temperature of water in most homes. Many hot water heaters burn a fuel such as
natural gas. The burning fuel causes the water to get hot because combustion is an exothermic reaction.
Combustion as an Exothermic Reaction
All combustion reactions are exothermic reactions. During a combustion reaction, a substance burns as it combines
with oxygen. When substances burn, they usually give off energy as heat and light. Look at the big bonfire in the
Figure 1.2. The combustion of wood is an exothermic reaction that releases a lot of energy as heat and light. You
can see the light energy the fire is giving off. If you were standing near the fire, you would also feel its heat.
Summary
• An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction in which less energy is needed to break bonds in the reactants
than is released when new bonds form in the products.
• During an exothermic reaction, energy is constantly given off, often in the form of heat.
• All combustion reactions are exothermic reactions. During combustion, a substance burns as it combines with
oxygen, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.
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Concept 1. Exothermic Reactions
FIGURE 1.2
Vocabulary
• exothermic reaction: Chemical reaction that releases energy because it takes less energy to break bonds in
the reactants than is released when new bonds form in the product.
Practice
Watch the video about exothermic reactions at the following URL, and then answer the questions below. http://w
ww.videojug.com/film/a-guide-to-exothermic-reactions
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.
1. Why do exothermic reactions heat up?
2. Explain why this reaction is exothermic: CH4 + F2 → CH3 F + HF.
Review
1. What is an exothermic reaction?
2. Why are the products of an exothermic reaction likely to be warmer than the reactants?
3. Describe an example of an exothermic reaction.
References
1. Christopher Auyeung. . CC BY-NC 3.0
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2. Thaddeaus. . Public Domain
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