AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry: Reaction profiles
Energy changes · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.5.1.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Reaction profiles", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What two conditions must be met for reacting particles to react?
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They must collide with each other, and with sufficient energy.
Define activation energy.
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The minimum amount of energy that particles must have in order to react.
The minimum energy that particles must have to react is called the ?.
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activation energy
Why is activation energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur?
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Colliding particles only react if they have at least this minimum energy; collisions with less energy do not lead to a reaction.
What is a reaction profile?
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An energy level diagram showing the relative energies of reactants and products, the activation energy and the overall energy change of a reaction.
On a reaction profile, how is the activation energy shown?
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As the energy difference between the reactants and the peak (top) of the curve.
On a reaction profile, how is the overall energy change shown?
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As the energy difference between the reactants and the products.
How does a reaction profile show a reaction is exothermic?
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The products are at a lower energy level than the reactants, so energy is released to the surroundings.
How does a reaction profile show a reaction is endothermic?
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The products are at a higher energy level than the reactants, so energy is taken in from the surroundings.
What does the curved line on a reaction profile represent?
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The energy of the system as the reaction proceeds from reactants to products.
In an ? reaction, the products have less energy than the reactants.
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exothermic
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