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Potential Energy Diagrams

 

A potential energy diagram plots the change in potential energy that occurs during a chemical reaction. This first video takes you through all the basic parts of the PE diagram.

Sometimes a teacher finds it necessary to ask questions about PE diagrams that involve actual Potential Energy values. This short video takes you through a few example of those problems.

Video Example #1

potential energy curve

QuestionAnswer
Does the graph represent an endothermic or exothermic reaction? 
Endothermic
Determine the heat of reaction, DH,  for this reaction.+50kJ
Determine the activation energy, Ea for this reaction. +200kJ
What is the energy of the activated complex for this reaction? 250kJ
Determine the reverse activation energy, Ea for this reaction. +150kJ Absorbed

 

Video Example #2

potential energy curve

QuestionAnswer
Does the graph represent an endothermic or exothermic reaction? 
Exothermic
Determine the heat of reaction, DH,  for this reaction.-20kJ
Determine the activation energy, Ea for this reaction. +60kJ
What is the energy of the activated complex for this reaction? 100kJ
Determine the reverse activation energy, Ea for this reaction. +80kJ Absorbed

 

 

 

Click here-->Another TUTORIAL

 

More on PE Diagrams

ENERGY FLOW

Potential energy curve - endothermic reaction

Endothermic Reactions

the reactants have less potential energy than do the products. Energy must be input in order to raise the particles up to the higher energy level.

Energy + Reactants--> Products

potential energy curve - exothermic reaction

Exothermic Reactions

the reactants have more potential energy than the products have. The extra energy is released to the surroundings.

 

Reactants --> Products + Energy

Activation Energy "Ea"

-The Energy required to initiate a chemical reaction. Both endothermic and exothermic reactions require activation energy.

 

Endothermic Reactions

the reactants have less potential energy than do the products. Energy must be input in order to raise the particles up to the higher energy level.

Energy + Reactants--> Products

 

Exothermic Reactions

the reactants have more potential energy than the products have. The extra energy is released to the surroundings.

Reactants --> Products + Energy

 

Activated complex

In this diagram, the activation energy is signified by the hump in the reaction pathway and is labeled. At the peak of the activation energy hump, the reactants are in the transition state, halfway between being reactants and forming products. This state is also known as an activated complex.

Effect of a Catalyst

speeds up a reaction by lower the activation energy

 

 

 

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Regents Questions-Highlight to reveal answer

6/02

Base your answers on the information and diagram below, which represent the changes in potential energy that occur during the given reaction. Given the reaction: A + B --> C

a)  Does the diagram illustrate an exothermic or an endothermic reaction? State one reason, in terms of energy, to support your answer.

   

Answer-->

Endothermic, the products have more energy than the reactants.

b) On the diagram provided in your answer booklet, draw a dashed line to indicate a potential energy curve for the reaction if a catalyst is added.

 

Answer-->

 Can't, but you can make the hill into a smaller bump.

 

8/02

1. Given the reaction: 2 H2(g) + O2(g) --> 2 H2O(l) + 571.6 kJ What is the approximate ΔH for the formation of 1 mole of H2O(l)?

            (1) -285.8 kJ         (2) +285.8 kJ          (3) -571.6 kJ               (4) +571.6 kJ

 

Answer-->

choice 1,  since the 571.6kJ is a product H is negative and that energy is release when 2 moles of water are produced. 2 is the coefficient of water and means 2 moles.. The question asked for 1 mole, so the answer is half.

 

2.  According to Table I, which potential energy diagram best represents the reaction that forms H2O(l) from its elements?

Answer-->

 Choice 1, since H is negative

 

3.  Given the reaction: CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) --> 2 H2O(l) + CO2(g) What is the overall result when CH4(g) burns according to this reaction?

            (1) Energy is absorbed and ΔH is negative.       (3) Energy is released and ΔH is negative.

            (2) Energy is absorbed and ΔH is positive.        (4) Energy is released and ΔH is positive.

Answer-->

choice 3, burning is exothermic

 

4.  According to Table I, which salt releases energy as it dissolves?  (1) KNO3        (2) LiBr             (3) NH4NO3               (4) NaCl

Answer-->

choice 3, LiBr has a negative H

 1/03 

Given the reaction: S(s) + O2(g) à SO2(g) + energy  Which diagram best represents the potential energy changes for this reaction?

 

Answer-->

Choice 1, Energy is a product so it is exothermic

 6/03

22. Which statement correctly describes an endothermic chemical reaction?

        (1) The products have higher potential energy than the reactants, and the ΔH is negative.

        (2) The products have higher potential energy than the reactants, and the ΔH is positive.

        (3) The products have lower potential energy than the reactants, and the ΔH is negative.

        (4) The products have lower potential energy than the reactants, and the ΔH is positive.

 

Answer-->

choice 2

 

35.  A catalyst is added to a system at equilibrium. If the temperature remains constant, the activation energy of the forward reaction (1) decreases (2). increases (3) remains the same

 

Answer-->

choice 1

 

43. The potential energy diagram below represents a reaction.

Which arrow represents the activation energy of the forward reaction? (1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D

 

Answer-->

choice B

8/03

17 Which phase change is an exothermic process?

(1) CO2 (s) --> CO2 (g)

(2) NH3 (g) --> NH3 (l)

(3) Cu(s) --> Cu(l)

(4) Hg(l) --> Hg(g)

Answer-->

choice 2

 

51 Explain how a catalyst may increase the rate of a chemical reaction.

 

Answer-->

lowers the activation energy

 

52 Sketch the potential energy diagram for an endothermic chemical reaction that shows the activation energy and the potential energy of the reactants and the potential energy of the products.

Answer-->

 

1/04

16 Which statement best explains the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
        (1) A catalyst is added as an additional reactant and is consumed but not regenerated.
        (2) A catalyst limits the amount of reactants used.

        (3) A catalyst changes the kinds of products produced.

        (4) A catalyst provides an alternate reaction path-way that requires less activation energy.

 

Answer-->choice 4

 

Base your answers to questions 77 through 79 on the information and potential energy diagram below. Chemical cold packs are often used to reduce swelling after an athletic injury. The diagram represents the potential energy changes when a cold pack is activated.

77 Which lettered interval on the diagram represents the potential energy of the products? 

 

Answer-->

choice D


78 Which lettered interval on the diagram represents the heat of reaction?

 

Answer-->

choice C


79 Identify a reactant listed in Reference Table I that could be mixed with water for use in a chemical cold pack.

 

Answer-->

KNO3    NH4Cl    NH4NO3    NaCl

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6/04

21 A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction by
        (1) lowering the activation energy of the reaction (2) lowering the potential energy of the products
        (3) raising the temperature of the reactants (4) raising the concentration of the reactants

 

Answer-->

choice 1

 

8/04

19 Which information about a chemical reaction is provided by a potential energy diagram?

                (1) the oxidation states of the reactants and products

                (2) the average kinetic energy of the reactants and products

                (3) the change in solubility of the reacting substances

                (4) the energy released or absorbed during the reaction

 

Answer-->

choice 4

 

1/05

Base your answers to questions 56 through 58 on the potential energy diagram and the equation below.

 

2 C(s) + H2(g) + 227.4 kJ → C2H2(g)

56 The letter B represents which chemical formula or formulas in the equation?

 

Answer-->

C2H2

 

57 If 682.2 kilojoules are absorbed, how many moles of C2H2(g) are produced?

 

Answer-->

3 moles

 

58 Describe how the potential energy diagram will change if a catalyst is added.

 

Answer-->

the activation energy would be lower

1/06

16 In a chemical reaction, the difference between the potential energy of the products and the potential energy of the reactants is defined as the

    (1) activation energy (2) ionization energy (3) heat of reaction (4) heat of vaporization

 

Answer-->

choice 3

 

40 Given the balanced equation:

   

Answer-->

choice 2

 

43 Given the potential energy diagram for a chemical reaction:

Which statement correctly describes the energy changes that occur in the forward reaction?

    (1) The activation energy is 10. kJ and the reaction is endothermic.

    (2) The activation energy is 10. kJ and the reaction is exothermic.

    (3) The activation energy is 50. kJ and the reaction is endothermic.

    (4) The activation energy is 50. kJ and the reaction is exothermic.

 

Answer-->

choice 2

 

6/06

18 Which expression represents the ΔH for a chemical reaction in terms of the potential energy, PE, of its products and reactants?

    (1) PE of products + PE of reactants     (2) PE of products – PE of reactants

    (3) PE of products × PE of reactants     (4) PE of products ÷ PE of reactants

 

Answer-->choice 2

 

19 Which balanced equation represents an endothermic reaction?

 

Answer-->

choie 4, use table I, H=+182.6

 

Base your answers to questions 59 and 60 on the information below. Given the reaction at equilibrium:

 

59 Explain, in terms of energy, why the forward reaction is exothermic.

 

Answer-->

Releases energy

 

60 Explain, in terms of Le Chatelier’s principle, why the equilibrium shifts to the right to relieve the stress when the pressure on the system is increased at constant temperature.

 

Answer-->

lower number of moles of gases on the right

 

8/06

16 Which statement best describes how a catalyst increases the rate of a reaction?

    (1) The catalyst provides an alternate reaction pathway with a higher activation energy.

    (2) The catalyst provides an alternate reaction pathway with a lower activation energy.

    (3) The catalyst provides the same reaction pathway with a higher activation energy.

    (4) The catalyst provides the same reaction pathway with a lower activation energy.

 

Answer-->

choice 2

 

44 Given the balanced equation representing a reaction:

Which statement is true about energy in this reaction?

    (1) The reaction is exothermic because it releases heat.      (2) The reaction is exothermic because it absorbs heat.

    (3) The reaction is endothermic because it releases heat.   (4) The reaction is endothermic because it absorbs heat.

 

Answer-->

choice 1

 

46 Given the potential energy diagram for a reaction:

Which interval on this diagram represents the difference between the potential energy of the products and the potential energy of the reactants?    (1) 1     (2) 2    (3) 3      (4) 4

 

Answer-->

choice 4

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