Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions


Exothermic is reaction that release heat from the system to surrounding. For this reaction, the reactants have higher enthalpy compared to the products. The enthalpy change will always negative. Figure 1 shows the energy profile diagram for exothermic reaction.




figure 1


Endothermic reaction is reaction that absorbs heat from the surrounding to the system. The reactants have lower enthalpy compared to the products and the enthalpy change will always positive. Figure 2 shows the energy profile diagram for endothermic reaction.


figure 2