Cambridge​ ​IGCSE​ ​Chemistry

Topic​ ​6:​ ​Chemical​ ​energetics

Energetics​ ​of​ ​a​ ​reaction

Notes

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Describe​ ​the​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​exothermic​ ​and​ ​endothermic​ ​reactions

● An exothermic reaction is one that transfers energy to the surroundings so the

temperature of the surroundings increases.
o Examples​ ​of​ ​exothermic​ ​reactions​ ​include;​ ​combustion,​ ​many​ ​oxidation
reactions​ ​and​ ​neutralisation.
o Everyday​ ​examples​ ​of​ e​ xothermic​ ​reactions​ ​include;​ ​self-heating​ ​cans​ (​ e.g
for​ ​coffee)​ ​and​ ​hand​ ​warmers.

● An endothermic reaction is one that takes in energy

from​ ​the​ ​surroundings​ ​so​ ​the​ ​temperature​ ​of​ ​the
surroundings​ ​decreases.
o Examples​ ​of​ ​endothermic​ ​reactions​ ​are
thermal​ ​decomposition​ ​and​ ​the​ r​ eaction​ ​of
citric​ ​acid​ ​and​ ​sodium​ ​hydrogencarbonate.
o Some​ ​sports​ ​injury​ ​packs​ ​are​ ​based​ ​on
endothermic​ ​reactions.

(Extended​ ​only)​ ​Describe​ ​bond​ ​breaking​ ​as​ ​an​ ​endothermic​ ​process​ ​and
bond​ ​forming​ ​as​ ​an​ ​exothermic​ ​process
● During a chemical reaction:
o Energy​ ​is​ ​taken​ ​in​ ​to​ ​break​ ​bonds​ ​in​ ​the​ r​ eactants -​ ​endothermic.
o Energy​ ​ ​is​ ​released​ ​when​ ​bonds​ ​are​ ​formed​ ​in​ ​products -​ ​
exothermic.
o 'buses​ ​take​ ​many​ r​ outes​' (​ break​ ​bonds-​ ​take​ ​in​ ​energy,​ ​make​ ​
bonds- release​ ​energy).
● Energy needed to BREAK > energy RELEASED
ENDOTHERMIC
● Energy needed to BREAK < energy RELEASED
EXOTHERMIC

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 Endothermic reaction Exothermic reaction

● Reaction profiles can be used to show the relative energes of

reactants and products, the activation energy and the overall
energy change of a reaction.
● The arrow shows overall energy change.
● Arrows on energy level diagrams show the activation energy
(energy required to start a reaction - labeled as 'Ea' on
diagram).
● You can recognise which diagrams are exo/endothermic by
looking at whether the reactants or products have more energy.

(Extended​ ​ only)​ ​ Draw​ ​ aabel​ ​ energy​ ​ level​ ​ diagrams​ ​ for​ ​ exothermic​ ​ and
endothermic​ ​ reactions​ ​ using​ ​ data​ ​ provided

● See above information - apply this to drawing your own

energy level diagrams.

(Extended​ ​ only)​ ​ Calculate​ ​ the​ ​ energy​ ​ of​ ​ a​ ​ reaction​ ​ using​ ​ bond​ ​ energies

1. Add​ ​together​ ​all​ ​the​ ​bond​ ​energies​ ​for​ ​all​ ​the​ ​bonds​ ​in​ ​the​ r​ eactants​ ​–​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the
‘energy​ ​in’.
2. Add​ ​together​ ​the​ ​bond​ ​energies​ ​for​ a​ ll​ ​the​ ​bonds​ ​in​ ​the​ ​products​ ​–​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the
‘energy​ ​out’.
3. Calculate​ ​the​ ​energy​ ​change:​ ​energy​ ​in​ ​–​ ​energy​ ​out.

If​ ​the​ ​energy​ ​out​ ​>​ ​energy​ ​in,​ ​the​ ​energy​ ​change​ ​will​ ​be​ ​negative​ ​showing​ ​an​ ​exothermic
reaction​ ​and​ i​ f​ ​the​ ​energy​ ​out​ <​ ​ ​energy​ i​ n,​ ​the​ e​ nergy​ ​change​ ​will​ ​be​ ​positive​ ​showing​ ​
an endothermic​ ​reaction.

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Cambridge​ ​IGCSE​ ​Chemistry

Topic​ ​6:​ ​Chemical​ ​energetics

Energy​ ​transfer

Notes

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Describe​ ​the​ ​release​ ​of​ ​heat​ ​energy​ ​by​ ​burning​ ​fuels

● Burning​ ​fuels​ ​(i.e.​ ​combustion)​ ​releases​ ​heat​ ​energy

o Reacting​ ​fuels​ ​with​ ​oxygen​ ​/​ ​oxidation​ ​of​ ​fuels

State​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​hydrogen​ ​as​ ​a​ ​fuel

● Hydrogen​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​as​ ​a​ ​fuel​ ​(can​ ​be​ ​burnt​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​energy)

(Extended​ ​only)​ ​Describe​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​hydrogen​ ​as​ ​a​ ​fuel​ ​reacting​ ​with​ ​oxygen
to​ ​generate​ ​electricity​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fuel​ ​cell​ ​(Details​ ​of​ ​the​ ​construction​ ​and
operation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​fuel​ ​cell​ ​are​ ​not​ ​required)

● Use​ ​of​ ​hydrogen​ ​as​ ​a​ ​fuel:

o Oxidised​ ​(reacted​ ​with​ ​oxygen)​ ​within​ ​the​ ​fuel​ ​cell​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​a​ ​potential
difference
o Overall​ ​reaction​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hydrogen​ ​fuel​ ​cell​ ​involves​ ​the​ ​oxidation​ ​of​ ​hydrogen
to​ ​produce​ ​water
o Fuel​ ​cell​ ​involves​ ​the​ ​reaction​ ​of​ ​a​ ​fuel​ ​(in​ ​this​ ​case:​ ​hydrogen)​ ​with
oxygen​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​electricity

Describe​ ​radioactive​ ​isotopes,​ ​such​ ​as​ 235

​ ​U,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​source​ ​of​ ​energy
● Radioactive​ ​isotopes​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​as​ ​a​ ​source​ ​of​ ​energy
● Nuclear​ ​power​ ​stations​ ​use​ ​fission​ ​of​ ​e.g.​ ​uranium​ ​to​ ​generate​ ​heat

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