Question

The potential energy diagram shows the gain and loss of potential energy as water molecules decompose into hydrogen and oxygen. Label the parts of the diagram

Answer 1

Answer:

• The diagram with the five labels of the parts is in the image attached. Please, see the image.

Explanation:

1) General explanation: a potential chemical energy diagram is used to show how the reactants gain energy until they reach the activation energy, form the activated complex, and release part of the energy to form the products.

The difference between the chemical potential energy of the products and the reactants is the enthalpy of the reaction:

• ΔH rxn = ΔH products - ΔH reactants.

The labels that correspond to each part of the diagram are explained next.

2) Reactants:

This is the substances at the start, so they appear on the left bottom side of the diagram.

3) Activation energy:

It is the energy that the reactants must reach (the highest point) in order to the reaction occurs.

4) Activated complex:

This is the intermediate state and of highest energy. The reactants have formed a complex at mid way between the reactants and the products.

5) Products:

These are the substances formed when the reaction is completed. They are lower in energy than the activated complex. They can be either higher or lower in energy than the reactants. The products are shown to the right of the diagram.

6) Enthalpy of the reaction:

The enthalpy of the reaction is the difference in energy of the products and the reactants. In this case, since, the products are higher in energy, it means that the reaction absorbed energy and it is an endothermic reaction.