Grade 12 Science Essentials

Energy and Chemical Change SCIENCE CLINIC 2019 ©

ENERGY CHANGE ENTHALPY AND ENTHALPY CHANGE

The energy change that takes place occurs because of bonds being broken and new bonds being formed. Enthalpy (H) is the total amount of stored chemical energy (potential energy) of the reactants and the
products. During chemical reactions, energy can be exchanged between the chemical system and the
When bonds are broken, energy is absorbed from the environment. (endothermic)
environment, resulting in a change in enthalpy. This change in enthalpy, !H, represents the heat of the
When bonds are formed, energy is released into the environment. (exothermic) reaction measured in kJ·mol−1.
The net energy change will determine if the reaction is endothermic or exothermic. The heat of reaction (!H) is the net change of chemical potential energy of the system.

ACTIVATION ENERGY
CHEMICAL SYSTEM AND THE ENVIRONMENT
In order to start a reaction, energy first needs to be absorbed to break the bonds. This energy is known
as the activation energy – the minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction OR the The chemical system is the reactant and product molecules.
energy required to form the activated complex.
The environment is the surroundings of the chemical system, including the container in which the reac-
Once the bonds have been broken, the atoms in the chemical system form an activated complex – a tion takes place, or the water in which the molecules are dissolved.
high energy, unstable temporary transition state between the reactants and the products.

CATALYST
ENDOTHERMIC EXOTHERMIC
In order for a reaction to occur, enough en-
ergy has to be provided (activation energy)
A reaction that absorbs heat energy A reaction that releases heat energy for particles to collide effectively.
The amount of required energy can be de-
More energy absorbed than released More energy released than absorbed creased by using a catalyst. A catalyst is a
chemical substances that lowers the activa-
Net energy change is energy absorbed from the environment Net energy change is energy released into the environment tion energy required without undergoing
chemical change. By lowering the activation
The chemical system’s energy increases (!H>0) The chemical system’s energy decreases (!H<0) energy, the rate of the reaction can also be
increased.
The environment’s energy decreases The environment’s energy increases A catalyst is a substance that increases
the rate of the reaction but remains
Temperature of the environment decreases (test tube gets colder) Temperature of the environment increases (test tube gets hotter)
unchanged at the end of the reaction
POTENTIAL ENERGY PROFILE GRAPH OF AN ENDOTHERMIC REACTION POTENTIAL ENERGY PROFILE GRAPH OF AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION
IMPORTANT REACTIONS
Ac+vated Ac+vated
ENDOTHERMIC
Complex Complex
Photosynthesis
Effect of Effect of 6CO2 + 6H2 O
light
C6 H12 O6 + 6O2 ; !H>0
Poten+al Energy- EP (kJ)

Poten+al Energy- EP (kJ)

catalyst catalyst
EA
Products EXOTHERMIC
Reactants Cellular respiration
EA ΔH ΔH C6 H12 O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2 O ; !H<0

Combustion
Reactants Products
CH 4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2 O ; !H<0
C 2 H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2 O ; !H<0
Course of reac+on Course of reac+on
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 Grade 12 Science Essentials
Rates of Reactions SCIENCE CLINIC 2019 ©

RATES OF REACTIONS FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTION RATE

Temperature Nature of reactants
The change in concentration per unit time of either a reac-
Increasing temperature increases rate of reaction. When the temperature increases, The physical and chemical properties of certain
tant or product.
the kinetic energy of the particles increases. More particles have sufficient energy to molecules make them more likely to react.
overcome the activation energy, and more effective collisions can take place per
Δ[products] Δ[reactants] For example:
unit time.
Rate = Rate = EA
• O2 has many effective orientations
Δt Δt • F’s electronegativity makes it more reactive

Number of par0cles

Amount of product
• Tertiary alcohols have limited effective collision

re
(mol)/(mol·dm−3)

pe h
tu
m ig
orientations due to molecule structure

ra
te H
Hi
Unit: Change in concentration over time (mol·dm−3·s−1) w re
Lo ratu

gh
• Simple (Ca2+) and complex (C2O4−) ions.
pe

T
em
May also be given terms of change in mass per unit time (g·s−1) OR

Low
m State of division / surface area (solids only)
te

p.
of change in volume per unit time (dm3·s−1) OR change in number of
Increased state of division (powder instead of

Tem
mole per unit time (mol·s−1)
chunks) increases rate of reaction. Increasing the

p.
surface area exposed to collisions increases that
The gradient of a concentration/mass/volume versus time graph number of particles that will undergo collisions, and
gives the rate of a reaction, thus a steeper gradient means a higher Energy Time (s) more effective collisions can take place per unit
rate of reaction. time.
Concentration (gases and solutions only)
Increasing concentration increases rate of reaction. The greater the concentration, the

Amount of product
COLLISION THEORY

(mol)/(mol·dm−3)
more particles occur per unit volume. More particles have sufficient energy to over-

er
The conditions for successful collisions are: come the activation energy, and more effective collisions can take place per unit

wd

lar
time. If the concentration of a limiting reactant is increased, more product can be

Po

u
1. Particles must collide with correct orientation

an
formed. High conc.

Gr
The structure of the molecules and their relative orientations to
each other is important for effective collisions. Some catalysts 1M E A Limiting react.

Number of par0cles

Amount of product
function by improving molecular orientation.

(mol)/(mol·dm−3)
onc.
2. Particles must collide with sufficient energy (kinetic High c act.
s s re
energy ≥ activation energy) 0,5M Exce Time (s)
The molecules have to collide with sufficient amount of energy
Pressure (gases only)
for bonds to break and the reaction to occur (activation energy). .
nc Increased pressure (by decreasing volume) in-
MAXWELL-BOLTZMAN DISTRIBUTION CURVE co creases the concentration of the gas thus increas-
w
The Maxwell-Boltzman distribution curve shows the distribution of Lo ing the rate of reaction.
the kinetic energy of molecules. The area under the graph to the (See ‘Concentration’)
right of the EA line represents the particles with sufficient kinetic Energy Time (s)
energy

Amount of product
Catalyst

(mol)/(mol·dm−3)
most particles have moderate energy The presence of a catalyst decreases the activation energy (EA). More particles have

pre igh
re
∴ average EK sufficient energy to overcome the lowered activation energy, and more effective colli- w
Lo sure

ssu
H
sions can take place per unit time. res
p
number of

EA (catalyst)
particles

Number of par0cles

Amount of product
few particles have

(mol)/(mol·dm−3)

t
lys
EA very high energy

ta
EA (no catalyst) t
ou

Ca
∴ high EK
ith lyst Time (s)
W ta
ca WAYS TO MEASURE RATE
energy 1. Change in mass
2. Volume of gas produced
few particles have 3. Change in colour
Par$cles with sufficient energy
very little energy 4. Turbidity (precipitation)
for an effec$ve collision Energy
∴ low EK Time (s) 5. Change in pH
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