Chapter 20, Problem 17TE

Exothermic reactions are favored because they release heat to the environment. Would an exothermic reaction be more favored or less favored if it were carried out within a superheated chamber?

To determine

Whether an exothermic reaction will be more favored or less favored if it were carried out within a superheated chamber.

Answer to Problem 17TE

An exothermic reaction will not be favored if it were carried out within a superheated chamber.

Explanation of Solution

The process of the conversion of reactant species into the product species is called a chemical reaction.

There are two main types of chemical reactions based on the exchange of energy.

The chemical reaction where the energy is absorbed in the system from the external area or the surrounding is the endothermic type of reaction.

The chemical reaction where the energy is released to the surrounding from the area of interest or the system is the exothermic type of reaction.

Since, an exothermic reaction results in the release of energy from the reaction system to the external surrounding. This release of energy in an exothermic reaction results in the increase in the entropy of a reaction system and also tends to decrease the Gibbs free energy of a particular reaction.

When this reaction is taken in a superheated container, the temperature of the system increases which results in a decrease in product formation.

As the reaction constant (k) decreases in the exothermic reaction as the temperature of the system increases.

Conclusion:

Therefore, an exothermic reaction will not be favored if it were carried out within a superheated chamber.