tudy Guide: Physical and Chemical
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Energy Changes
Quiz: Short-Answer Questions
I nstructions: Answer the following questions based on the source material. Each
answer should be approximately 2-3 sentences.
1. What is the primary distinction between a physical change and a chemical
change?
2. Explain how a refrigerator utilizes physical changes to transfer heat from its
interior to the surrounding room.
3. Define exothermic and endothermic reactions in terms of thermal energy
transfer and the effect on the temperature of the surroundings.
4. Describe the key features of a reaction pathway diagram for an exothermic
reaction, such as the combustion of methane.
5. What is enthalpy change (ΔH), and what do its negative and positive values
signify about a reaction?
6. Explain the relationship between bond breaking, bond making, and energy
transfer within a chemical reaction.
7. Why is activation energy (Ea) a requirement for all chemical reactions,
including those that are spontaneous?
8. Is the condensation of steam to water an exothermic or an endothermic
process? Justify the answer based on the provided text.
9. State the fundamental equation used to calculate the enthalpy of reaction
(ΔH) from bond energies.
10.The reaction of nitrogen and oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide is
endothermic. How would this be represented on a reaction pathway
diagram?
Answer Key
1. The primary distinction is that in a chemical change, or reaction, new
chemical substances are formed. In a physical change, the substances present
remain chemically the same, even if their physical state or form changes.
2. A refrigerator uses a volatile liquid coolant that evaporates inside cooling
coils, an endothermic process that absorbs heat from the fridge's interior.
This vapor is then compressed and condensed back into a liquid outside the
fridge, an exothermic process that releases the absorbed heat into the room.
3. Exothermic reactions are processes that transfer thermal energy to the
surroundings, causing the temperature of the surroundings to increase.
Endothermic reactions are processes that take in thermal energy from the
surroundings, leading to a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings.
4. A reaction pathway diagram for an exothermic reaction shows the energy of
the reactants as higher than the energy of the products. An arrow points
downwards from the reactant energy level to the product energy level to
show that energy is released.
5. Enthalpy change (ΔH) is the transfer of thermal energy (heat) during a
reaction. A negative ΔH value signifies an exothermic reaction where heat is
released, while a positive ΔH value signifies an endothermic reaction where
heat is absorbed.
6. In a chemical reaction, energy must be taken in from the surroundings to
break the existing chemical bonds in the reactants, which is an endothermic
process. When new bonds are formed to create the products, energy is given
out to the surroundings, which is an exothermic process.
7. Activation energy is required for all chemical reactions because some bonds
in the reactants must first be broken before any new bonds can be formed.
This initial bond breaking requires a minimum input of energy to start the
process, even if the overall reaction releases energy.
8. The condensation of steam to water is an exothermic change. The text states
that the reverse changes of endothermic processes like evaporation are
exothermic.
9. The equation to calculate the enthalpy of a reaction from bond energies is:
ΔH = (energy needed to break bonds) - (energy given out when bonds form).
10.A reaction pathway diagram for the endothermic reaction between nitrogen
and oxygen would show the energy level of the products (nitrogen
monoxide) as being higher than the energy level of the reactants (nitrogen
a nd oxygen). An arrow would point upwards from the reactants to the
products, indicating that heat energy is taken in.
Essay Questions
I nstructions: Formulate detailed responses to the following essay prompts,
drawing upon concepts and data from the source material.
1. Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes using specific
examples from the text, such as the melting of ice and the burning of
magnesium. Your discussion should address reversibility, the formation of
new substances, and associated energy changes.
2. Using the combustion of methane as a model, explain the complete energy
profile of an exothermic reaction. Describe the roles of bond breaking, bond
making, activation energy (Ea), and overall enthalpy change (ΔH),
illustrating your explanation with a fully labeled reaction pathway diagram.
3. Elaborate on the statement: "Bond breaking is endothermic and bond making
is exothermic." Explain how the balance between the energy involved in
these two processes determines whether a reaction is ultimately exothermic
or endothermic, using provided bond energy data as a potential reference.
4. Analyze the operation of a modern refrigerator as a practical application of
endothermic and exothermic physical changes. Detail the
evaporation-condensation cycle of the coolant and explain how this system
effectively transfers thermal energy.
5. Define activation energy (Ea) and explain its universal necessity for all
chemical reactions. Discuss how Ea is represented on reaction pathway
diagrams for both exothermic and endothermic reactions and what a low
activation energy implies for a reaction's apparent spontaneity.
Glossary of Key Terms
Term Definition
Activation energy (Ea) he minimum energy required to start a chemical
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reaction. For a reaction to take place, the colliding
particles must possess at least this amount of energy.
Bond energy he energy required to break a particular type of
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covalent bond.
hemical reaction
C A change in which a new substance is formed.
(change)
Chemiluminescence he emission of energy in the form of light from a
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chemical reaction.
Endothermic process process that takes in heat energy from the
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surroundings, leading to a decrease in the
temperature of the surroundings. For endothermic
reactions, the enthalpy change (ΔH) is positive.
Enthalpy (H) The thermal (heat) content of a system.
Enthalpy change (ΔH) he heat change during the course of a reaction (also
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known as heat of reaction). It can be either
exothermic (a negative value) or endothermic (a
positive value).
Exothermic process process that transfers thermal energy to the
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surroundings, leading to an increase in the
temperature of the surroundings. For exothermic
reactions, the enthalpy change (ΔH) is negative.
Physical change change in the physical state of a substance or the
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physical nature of a situation that does not involve a
change in the chemical substance(s) present.
eaction pathway
R diagram that shows the energy levels of the
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diagram (energy level reactants and products in a chemical reaction and
diagram) shows whether the reaction is exothermic or
endothermic.
