SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY YEAR LEVEL: THIRD YEAR

PSSLC COMPETENCY: Demonstrate understanding on how chemical reactions occur (Exothermic

and Endothermic)
Specific Learning Objectives
1. Differentiate exothermic reaction from endothermic reaction
Knowledge
Skills

1. Appreciate the role of energy in weight gain and weight loss

Attitude

ASSESSMENT:
I. Complete the following:
Reaction q ΔH Endothermic/ Exothermic

Reaction of Mg and HCl (-) (-) (Exothermic)

Evaporation of Alcohol (+) (+) (Endothermic)

II. Tell whether the given system is endothermic or exothermic:

1. Igniting a matchstick (Exothermic)
2. Freezing water with ice tray (Exothermic)
3. Thawing frozen meat (Endothermic)
4. Photosynthesis (Endothermic)
5. Spoiling soap (Endothermic)
STRATEGIES SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS
Routine Activities
Pre-Activity
Review
Q&A: Energy and Heat

Motivation
Why do we feel warm just before it rains?

Allow the students to speculate and discuss. Accept any explanation

and tell them that it has something to do with the direction of heat
flow into and out of the system.
Activity
Activity 1 Diagram of the water cycle
1. Show a diagram of the water cycle.
2. Ask the students to name as many phase changes as they can
based on the diagram.
3. Ask the students to classify the phase changes as to whether it
absorbs or releases heat.

Introduce the terms exothermic (processes that release heat) and

endothermic (processes that absorb heat). Tell the students that just
as phase changes can be classified as exothermic and endothermic,
chemical reactions also be classified either as exothermic or as
endothermic. Proceed to Activity 2

Activity 2:
1. Divide the class into four groups. Activity Sheet (Endothermic
2. Discuss the procedure of the activity and precautions to be vs. Exothermic )
observed.
3. Let the students perform the activity on “Endothermic vs.
Exothermic”
 Analysis
(Refer to the Analysis Questions in the Activity Sheet)

Abstraction
1. What is an exothermic reaction?
2. What is an endothermic reaction?

Conduct a lecturette on the following:

1. Thermochemistry
2. Heat and Enthalpy Change
Application
Go back to the Motivation and ask the students to explain the
phenomenon on the basis of their knowledge on endothermic and
exothermic processes

Readings:

Thermochemistry is the study of the heat released or absorbed as a result of chemical reactions. It is a
branch of thermodynamics and is utilized by a wide range of scientists and engineers. For example,
biochemists use thermochemistry to understand bioenergetics, whereas chemical engineers apply
thermochemistry to design manufacturing plants.

Thermochemical changes are often discussed in terms

of the "system" and the "surroundings." The system is
regarded as the reaction products and reactants,
whereas the surroundings consist of everything else in the
universe. A boundary separates the system from the
surroundings.

The first law of thermodynamics relates the energy (U)

change belonging to a system to the amount of work (w)
and heat (q) crossing the boundary: ΔU = q + w ( = heat transferred + work done).

Energy transfer can be done in one of two ways:

1. work w can be done on the system by the surroundings (or vice versa). It can take the form of
mechanical work or of electrical energy transfer.
2. Heat q flows from the system to the surroundings (or vice versa)

There is a general sign convention that chemists use when describing q and w. When energy flows into
the system as a result of heat or work, the sign is positive (the system gains energy). When energy flows
out of a system, the sign is negative (the system looses energy. Both q and w refer, not to an amount of
energy, but to an amount of energy transferred as a result of the process.
Heat and Enthalpy Changes
When a chemical reaction occurs in an open container most of the energy gained or lost is in the form
of heat. Almost no work is done (i.e. nothing is being moved).

Heat flows between the system and surroundings until the two are at the same temperature.
 When a chemical reaction occurs in which the system absorbs heat, the process is endothermic (it
feels cold).
 When a chemical reaction occurs in which the system produces heat it is exothermic (it feels hot).

Enthalpy
Under conditions of constant pressure (e.g. most biological processes under constant atmospheric
pressure) the heat absorbed or released is termed enthalpy (or "heat content").

We do not measure enthalpy directly, rather we are concerned about the heat added or lost by the
system, which is the change in enthalpy (ΔH). In formal terms: The change in enthalpy, ΔH, equals the
heat, qp, added to or lost by the system when the process occurs under constant pressure: ΔH=qp

ΔH represents the difference between the enthalpy of the system at the beginning of the reaction
compared to what it is at the end of the reaction: ΔH = Hfinal - Hinitial

We are considering the enthalpic state of the system. Thus:

 if the system has higher enthalpy at the end of the reaction, then it absorbed heat from the
surroundings (endothermic reaction).
 if the system has a lower enthalpy at the end of the reaction, then it gave off heat during the
reaction (exothermic reaction).

Therefore:
 For endothermic reactions Hfinal > Hinitial and ΔH is positive (+ΔH)
 For exothermic reactions Hfinal < Hinitial and ΔH is negative (-ΔH)

Enthalpies of Reaction
Because the enthalpy change for a reaction is described by the final and initial enthalpies: ΔH =
Hfinal - Hinitial

We can also describe ΔH for a reaction by comparing the enthalpies of the products and the reactants:
ΔH = H(products) - H(reactants)

The enthalpy change that accompanies a reaction is called the enthalpy of reaction (ΔHrxn).

It is sometimes convenient to provide the value for ΔHrxn along with the balanced chemical equation for a
reaction (also known as a thermochemical equation):

2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(g) ΔH = -483.6 kJ

Note the following:

 ΔH is negative, indicating that this reaction results in the release of heat (exothermic).
 The reaction gives of 483.6 kilo Joules of energy when 2 moles of H2 combine with 1 mole of O2 to
produce 2 moles of H2O.

The relative enthalpies of the reactants and products can also be shown on an energy diagram:
 Exothermic Reaction Endothermic Reaction

Using Hess's Law we can calculate reaction enthalpies for a variety of reactions using tables of known
enthalpies. Many experimentally determined enthalpies are listed by the type of process:
 ΔH for converting various liquids to the gas phase are listed in tables of enthalpies of vaporization
 ΔH for melting solids to liquids are listed in tables of enthalpies of fusion
 ΔH for for combusting a substance in oxygen are listed in tables of enthalpies of combustion

The enthalpy change associated with the formation of a compound from its constituent elements is called
the enthalpy of formation (ΔHf ). Conditions which influence enthalpy changes include:
 temperature
 pressure
 state of reactants and products (s, g, l, aq)

The standard state of a substance is the form most stable at 298 °K (25 °C, or standard "room
temperature") and 1 atmosphere (1 atm) of pressure. When a reaction occurs with all reactants and
products in their standard states, the enthalpy change is the standard enthalpy of reaction (ΔH°).

Thus, the standard enthalpy of formation (ΔH°f) of a compound is the change in enthalpy that
accompanies the formation of 1 mole of that substance from its elements, with all substances in
their standard states.

By now chemists have measured the enthalpy changes for so many reactions that it

Properties of Enthalpy
1. Enthalpy is an extensive property. The magnitude of ΔH is dependent upon the amounts of
reactants consumed. Doubling the reactants, doubles the amount of enthalpy.
2. Reversing a chemical reaction results in the same magnitude of enthalpy but of the opposite sign.
For example, splitting two moles of water to produce 2 moles of H 2 and 1 mole of O2 gas requires
the input of +483.6 kJ of energy.
3. The enthalpy change for a reaction depends upon the state of the reactants and products. The
states (i.e. g, l, s or aq) must be specified.

Discussion of the Activity

In the water + salt system, the students should be able to observe that the outside surface of the
test tube turns cold. This means that heat was absorbed by the system, that is, heat flowed from the
surroundings (the test tube) to the system (water and salt). With the system absorbing heat, it follows that
its enthalpy (heat content) will have to increase. The reaction is therefore, ENDOTHERMIC.

In the water + NaOH system, the students should be able to observe that the outside surface of
the test tube turns warm. This means that heat was released by the system, that is, heat flowed from the
system (water and NaOH) to the surroundings (the test tube). With the system releasing heat, it follows
that its enthalpy (heat content) will have to decrease. The reaction is therefore, EXOTHERMIC.
 ACTIVITY SHEET

Endothermic vs. Exothermic

I. Objective
To differentiate endothermic from exothermic reaction

II. Materials:
2 Test tubes, water, salt (NaCl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

Definition of Terms:
Enthalpy –“heat content” of a substance
Heat – energy in transit due to the difference in temperature

A. 1. Put 20 mL of water in a test tube, add a pinch of salt and stir.

2. Touch the outside surface of the test tube and note your observation.

Analysis Questions:
1. Does test tube feel warm or cold when salt was dissolved in it?
2. From this observation, did the system (water + salt) released or absorbed heat?
3. What do you think became of the enthalpy of the system?
4. Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?

B. 1. Put 20 mL of water in another test tube, add a pinch of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and stir. Do
not handle NaOH with bear hands, it’s caustic!!!
2. Touch the outside surface of the test tube and note your observation.

Analysis Questions:
1. Does test tube feel warm or cold when salt was dissolved in it?
2. From this observation, did the system (water + NaOH) released or absorbed heat?
3. What do you think became of the enthalpy of the system?
4. Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?

Summarize your observations in the following table:

System Temperature Heat Enthalpy Type
(Warm or Cold) (Released or Absorbed) (Increase or Decrease) (Endothermic or Exothermic)
Water and Salt

Water and NaOH