Question

Which statement is true about the potential energy diagram for an exothermic reaction? (5 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

A.) Products have less potential energy than reactants.

Explanation:

A.) Potential energy is the amount of energy within a substance in relation to a base zero energy position. In exothermic reactions, there is more energy within the reactants than there is in the products. Therefore, the products must have less potential energy than the reactants.

B.) On a potential energy diagram, the x-axis represents the time and the y-axis represents the energy of the reaction. Because the line goes up and down on the graph, different energies are being passed. Therefore, the energy value does not remain the same throughout the diagram.

C.) The beginning of the line (which represents the reactants) starts at a higher position on the graph in relation to the end of the line (which represents the products). If the energy increases as you go up the y-axis, the graph starts at a higher energy value and ends at a lower energy value.

D.) As explained above, the reactants always have more energy than the products in exothermic reactions.