2CH3COOH + Na2CO3 → 2CH3COONa + H2O + CO2.

The reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate is endothermic. In three to five sentences, describe the energy graph for this reaction.

1 answer

In the energy graph for the reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate, the x-axis represents the progress of the reaction while the y-axis indicates energy levels. The reactants, ethanoic acid and sodium carbonate, are positioned at a higher energy level, reflecting their initial energy state. As the reaction proceeds, the energy decreases, indicating that energy is absorbed from the surroundings to facilitate the reaction, characteristic of an endothermic process. The products, sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide, are shown at a higher energy level than the reactants, resulting in a positive overall enthalpy change. The transition state, which is the peak of the graph, indicates the highest energy point during the reaction before it stabilizes in the product form.