Endothermic vs. Exothermic 4/30

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A chemical reaction can either be Endothermic or Exothermic. This means that the reaction can either absorb energy or release energy. An Endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction in which the solution absorbs energy from its surroundings. In contrast, the opposite of an Endothermic reaction is an Exothermic reaction. An Exothermic reaction is when the solution of a chemical reaction releases energy. This energy that is either absorbed or released is usually, but not always, in the form of heat. Since an Endothermic reaction absorbs heat, the products will have more potential energy than the reactants. This is because the reactants require more energy in order to complete the chemical reaction. In a Exothermic reaction, the products will have less potential energy than the reactants. The reactants of an Exothermic reaction have to release energy in order to complete the chemical reaction. You may be asking, where does the absorbed energy come from in an Endothermic reaction and where does the released energy go in a Exothermic reaction? The simple answer is the surrounding environment. In an Endothermic reaction, the energy comes from the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction. In an Exothermic reaction, the energy is released into the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction. An easy way to tell the difference between these reactions is by measuring the temperature. Since the energy usually comes in the form of heat, the temperature of a chemical reaction will change depending if it is Endothermic or Exothermic. In an Endothermic reaction, the temperature will decrease and the product will be a lower temperature than the reactants. In an Exothermic reaction, the temperature will increase and the product will be a higher temperature than the reactants.

S&EP - SP7: Engaging in argument from evidence

I used evidence to defend my explanation. I answered a worksheet in class about Endothermic and Exothermic reactions providing the examples and models on a website that was given to my classmates and I to use, as evidence. I formulated evidence based on solid data when I stated that the products of an Endothermic reaction is colder or a lower temperature than the reactants of the chemical reaction using the fact that energy (usually in the form of heat) from the surrounding environment is absorbed into the reaction and trapped inside the bonds of the molecules in an Endothermic reaction, making the surrounding environment colder, as evidence. I examined my own understanding in light of the evidence. I used to think that the temperature of the products in an Exothermic reaction would be cooler and at a lower temperature than the reactants because the heat energy was being released from the reactants, but because of learning that the energy is released into the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction, now I think that releasing the heat energy rises the temperature of the chemical reaction. I collaborated with my peers in searching for the best explanation. I did some research on Endothermic and Exothermic reactions and how they occur which I discussed with my class and table group. Together we figured out that an Endothermic reaction absorbs energy and an Exothermic reaction releases energy.

XCC: Cause and Effect

The cause and effect relationship that occurs in Endothermic and Exothermic reactions is between the reactants and products of the chemical reaction. The amount of potential energy that is in the product depends if the chemical reaction is an Endothermic reaction or Exothermic reaction. If the chemical reaction is an Endothermic reaction, the product will have more potential energy than the reactants. This is because the reactants of the chemical reaction absorb energy from the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction in order to break the bonds. If the reaction is an Exothermic reaction, the product will have less potential energy than the reactants. This is because the reactants of the chemical reaction release energy into the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction in order to form new bonds. In addition, the temperature of the product in the chemical reaction depends if the reaction is Endothermic or Exothermic as well. If the chemical reaction is an Endothermic reaction, the product is colder and at a lower temperature than the reactants. The temperature of the chemical reaction drops because the reactants absorb heat energy from the surrounding environment, making the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction colder. If the chemical reaction is an Exothermic reaction, the product is warmer and at a higher temperature than the reactants. The temperature of the chemical reaction rises because the reactants release heat energy into the surrounding environment, making the surrounding environment of the chemical reaction warmer.