Whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic is determined by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Exothermic reactions release energy and have a lower potential energy of products compared to reactants, while endothermic reactions absorb energy and have a higher potential energy of products compared to reactants. Therefore, how the reactant and product potential energies compare determines whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic. The activation energy and presence of a catalyst do not directly determine whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic. The physical state of reactants might affect the reaction rate but not the type of reaction.

Whether a Reaction Is Exothermic or Endothermic Is Determined by