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3 (a) When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the change is endothermic - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 3
3 (a) When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the change is endothermic. In an experiment, a thermometer is placed in some water in a beaker and ammonium nitrate ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:3 (a) When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the change is endothermic - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Explain, in terms of the breaking of bonds and the making of bonds, why this reaction is exothermic
Answer
The reaction between hydrogen and chlorine to form hydrogen chloride is exothermic because more energy is released when forming bonds in the product than is needed to break the bonds in the reactants.
- Bond breaking is an endothermic process, requiring energy to break the existing bonds in H₂ and Cl₂.
- Bond making, on the other hand, is exothermic, meaning energy is released when the bonds in HCl are formed.
- Since the energy released in forming HCl bonds is greater than the energy required to break the initial bonds, the overall reaction releases energy, making it exothermic.