Question

Which statement is true about the energy of products and reactants in exothermic and endothermic reactions?

Answer 1

In chemical reactions, the energy of products and reactants behaves differently in exothermic and endothermic processes.

1. **Exothermic Reactions**: In exothermic reactions, the energy of the products is lower than the energy of the reactants. This means that energy is released to the surroundings during the reaction, often in the form of heat. A common example of an exothermic reaction is combustion.

2. **Endothermic Reactions**: In endothermic reactions, the energy of the products is higher than the energy of the reactants. This indicates that the reaction absorbs energy from the surroundings, usually in the form of heat, to proceed. A common example of an endothermic reaction is the dissolution of certain salts in water or photosynthesis in plants.

So, the true statement would be:
- In exothermic reactions, the products have lower energy than the reactants; in endothermic reactions, the products have higher energy than the reactants.