Difference between revisions of "Exothermic"

Revision as of 13:05, 14 January 2019

An exothermic process is one that gives out energy. This usually causes surroundings to increase in temperature.

Most chemical reactions are exothermic with means they release energy to the environment and this is observed by an increase in temperature.


The energy stored in the reactants is released in the chemical reaction making the material increase in temperature. The products now have less energy than the reactants.

Freezing, Condensing and Depositing are exothermic changes because they release energy when they happen. The material has less after they have happened. However, there is usually no increase in temperature because the material is usually cooled to change state.

An exothermic process is one that gives out energy. This usually causes surroundings to increase in temperature.

Exothermic reactions usually require energy to begin. This is called the activation energy.

In an exothermic process the potential energy stored in the products is less than the potential energy stored in the reactants.


To start the reaction an activation energy is needed. This is usually achieved by initially heating the reactants. Once the reaction starts the energy stored in the reactants is released in the chemical reaction making the material increase in temperature. The products now have less energy than the reactants.

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 : [[Freezing]], [[Condensing]] and [[Depositing]] are [[exothermic]] changes because they release [[energy]] when they happen. The [[material]] has less after they have happened. However, there is usually no increase in [[temperature]] because the [[material]] is usually cooled to [[State Change|change state]].
+==Key Stage 4==
+===Meaning===
+An [[exothermic]] process is one that gives out [[energy]]. This usually causes surroundings to increase in [[temperature]].
+===About Exothermic Processes===
+: [[Exothermic]] [[Chemical Reaction|reactions]] usually require [[energy]] to begin. This is called the [[Activation Energy|activation energy]].
+: In an [[exothermic]] process the [[Potential Energy|potential energy]] stored in the [[product]]s is less than the [[Potential Energy|potential energy]] stored in the [[reactant]]s.
+{| class="wikitable"
+|-
+|[[File:ExothermicSketchGraphKS4.png|center|500px]]
+|-
+| style="height:20px; width:500px; text-align:center;" |To start the [[Chemical Reaction|reaction]] an [[Activation Energy|activation energy]] is needed. This is usually achieved by initially [[heating]] the [[reactant]]s. Once the [[Chemical Reaction|reaction]] starts the [[energy]] stored in the [[reactant]]s is released in the [[Chemical Reaction|chemical reaction]] making the [[material]] increase in [[temperature]]. The [[product]]s now have less [[energy]] than the [[reactant]]s.
+|}