Question

1. A student performs a reaction in a beaker by reaction silver nitrate with one long copper wire. The student’s thermometer changes from 27°C to 35°C. Based on this, is this reaction endothermic, exothermic, or neither? Explain your reasoning.
2. List three ways that the student could speed up the reaction in question 1

Answer 1

Answer:

1.Because the thermometer isn't part of the reaction (it's outside the system), and it increases in temperature, it must be absorbing energy that was released by the chemicals. When chemicals release energy during a reaction, the reaction is exothermic.  

2.The student could

Increase the temperature of the beaker using a hotplate/burner/stove

Increase the concentration of silver nitrate or copper wire

Cut the copper wire into smaller pieces to increase its surface area

Use a catalyst, if one exists

Explanation:

Answer 2

Explanation:

The observation of student was that thermometer reading changed from 27°C to 35°C which indicates that temperature of the beaker solution rose after reaction due to release of heat during reaction as a product.

Those chemical reactions which gives heat energy as a product into their surrounding are categorized as exothermic reactions. During the course of these reaction temperature of the surroundings also increased.

So, this means that reaction between silver nitrate and copper wire is an exothermic reaction.

Three ways that the student could speed up the reaction :

• By adding catalyst to the reaction.
• By decreasing the temperature.
• By increasing the concentration of silver nitarte solution.