A chemist wants to observe the following reaction: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O The chemist is standing in a room filled with oxygen and has a balloon filled with hydrogen. When the chemist holds a small flame to the hydrogen balloon, it explodes in a ball of fire. This reaction involves breaking the bonds of the reactants (H₂ and O₂) and forming new bonds in water (H₂O). True or False? More energy is released when the bonds of the products (H₂O) are formed than is required to break the bonds of the reactants (H₂ and O₂), making this an endothermic reaction.

Question

A. True
B. False

Answer 1

B. False

The reaction described is exothermic, not endothermic. In this case, more energy is released when the bonds of the products (H₂O) are formed than is required to break the bonds of the reactants (H₂ and O₂). This is why the reaction produces a significant amount of energy, resulting in an explosion when the hydrogen balloon is ignited.