Post Test: Chemical Reactions

Select the correct answer.

In a given chemical reaction, the energy of the products is greater than the energy of the reactants. Which statement is true for this reaction?

A. Energy is absorbed in the reaction.
B. Energy is released in the reaction.
C. No energy is transferred in the reaction.
D. Energy is created in the reaction.
E. Energy is lost in the reaction.



Answer :

To determine the correct statement about a chemical reaction where the energy of the products is greater than the energy of the reactants, let's consider the following:

1. Understanding Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions:
- In chemical reactions, energy changes occur that either absorb or release energy as the reaction proceeds from reactants to products.

2. Energy Absorption vs. Energy Release:
- An endothermic reaction absorbs energy. This means the energy required to break the bonds in the reactants is greater than the energy released when new bonds are formed in the products. As a result, the products have more energy than the reactants.
- An exothermic reaction, on the other hand, releases energy. This means the energy released when new bonds are formed in the products is greater than the energy required to break the bonds in the reactants. Therefore, the products have less energy than the reactants.

3. Given Condition Analysis:
- The given condition states that the energy of the products is greater than the energy of the reactants. This corresponds precisely to the scenario of an endothermic reaction, where energy is absorbed rather than released.

4. Evaluating the Statements:
- A. Energy is absorbed in the reaction: This is true for an endothermic reaction.
- B. Energy is released in the reaction: This applies to exothermic reactions where the products have less energy than the reactants, which is not the case here.
- C. No energy is transferred in the reaction: This is incorrect; energy transformation is a fundamental aspect of chemical reactions.
- D. Energy is created in the reaction: This is fundamentally incorrect, as energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed (law of conservation of energy).
- E. Energy is lost in the reaction: This is another way of describing the release of energy, which does not apply here as the products have higher energy.

5. Conclusion:
- Given the condition that the energy of the products is greater than that of the reactants, the correct statement is A. Energy is absorbed in the reaction.

Therefore, the correct answer is A. Energy is absorbed in the reaction.