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NOTES
NOVEMBER - 2021
Ch 9 – Energy changes and reversible reactions

GRADE: 9 SUB: CHEMISTRY

➢ Chemical reactions are classified into two types based on energy changes.
They are:

• Exothermic reaction: A reaction in which energy is given out to surroundings (temperature

of environment increases).

Examples: Combustion of fuels, reaction of acids and metals, neutralisation reactions.

• Endothermic reaction: A reaction in which energy is taken in from surroundings

(temperature of environment decreases).

Examples: Thermal decomposition of carbonates, electrolysis.

• Bond energy: The bond energy is the energy needed to break bonds, or released
when these bonds form. It is given in kJ / mole

BREAKING AND MAKING OF BONDS:

➢ Breaking bonds takes in energy. Making bonds releases energy.

➢ If the energy taken in to break bonds is less than the energy released in making bonds, the
reaction is exothermic.

• Energy is measured by units: Joule, kilojoule, calorie, kilocalorie.

• The minus sign shows that energy is given out.

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• The exothermic reaction between hydrogen and chlorine:

H2 + Cl2 → 2 HCl

H — H + Cl — Cl → 2 H — Cl

➢ If the energy taken in to break bonds is greater than the energy released in making bonds,
the reaction is endothermic.

• The plus sign shows that energy is given out.

Example: Decomposition of ammonia (NH3) to give nitrogen and hydrogen.

2NH3 → N2 + 3 H2

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➢ Energy from fuels:

• A fuel is a substance which releases energy when burned

• When the fuel is a hydrocarbon then water and carbon dioxide are produced in
combustion reactions
• Propane for example undergoes combustion according to the following equation:

C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O ΔH = -2219 KJ

• Energy is also produced as electricity from redox reaction during electrolysis.

• The hydrogen fuel cell:

- A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell in which a fuel donates electrons at one electrode
and oxygen gains electrons at the other electrode.

-These cells are becoming more common in the automotive industry to replace petrol or

diesel engines.

-H2 and O2 are pumped through two porous electrodes where the half-reactions occur.

The following reaction occurs at the anode: 2H2 → 4H+ + 4e-

The following reaction occurs at the cathode: 4H+ + O2 + 4e- → 2H2O

The overall reaction: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

➢ REVERSIBLE REACTION: A reaction which occur both in forward and backward

directions depending on the conditions under which it is carried out.

• A reversible reaction is endothermic in one direction, and exothermic in the other direction.
The same amount of energy is transferred each time.
• In a closed system, a reversible reaction reaches a state of dynamic equilibrium, where the
forward and back reactions take place at the same rate. So, there is no overall change.
• A reversible reaction always reaches equilibrium, in a closed system.

• Factors affecting the position of equilibrium:

This table shows conditions that can be changed for reversible reactions and the result.

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• Shifting the equilibrium for ammonia:

• Changing concentration in equilibrium reactions:

Equilibrium can also be shifted in reversible reactions involving solutions.

We can shift the equilibrium by changing concentration of reactants and product in the
reaction mixture.

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