Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

Chapter 8

Energy changes
All chemical reactions involve an energy change (H) where energy is given in
or out usually in from of heat measured in kilojoules (KJ) as reactions are
divided into two groups endothermic and exothermic.

Exothermic reaction Endothermic reaction

Reaction which releases energy to the Reaction which take in energy from the
surrounding. Heat is given out so surrounding. Heat is taken in so mixture
there is rise in temperature. become cold

Energy of reactants > energy of Energy of products > energy of reactants

products Reactants + energy products
Reactants product + energy
Temperature increase (Rise) Temperature decrease (Fall)
Reaction mixture become hot Reaction mixture become cold
Minus sign shows energy is given out Plus sign shows that energy is taken in
Examples: Examples:
1- Neutralization of acids by alkalis 1- Thermal decomposition
2- Combustion 2- Photosynthesis
3- Displacement 3- Electrolysis
4- Respiration 4- Reactions taking place in cooking
5- Fermentation of sugars 5-Evaporation and melting
6- Cell
7-Freezing and cooling
8-reaction of hydrogen and oxygen

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8
In Chemical Reactions: bond of reactants are broken and new bonds of products
are formed
▪ Bond breaking requires energy endothermic
▪ Bond formation release energy exothermic
▪ Bond energies:
The bond energy is the energy needs to break bonds or released when these
bonds form. It is given in KJ/mole.

▪ If the energy taken in to break the bond is more than energy released during bond
formation the reaction is endothermic.
▪ If the energy taken in to break the bond less than energy released to form the bond the
reaction is exothermic.

Δ Energy/Enthalpy change= Energy in – Energy out

Energy In > Energy out= Endothermic
Energy in < Energy Out = Exothermic

How to calculate the energy changes in reactions?

Example of exothermic reaction
Hydrogen reacts with chlorine forming hydrogen chloride.
H2 (g) + Cl2 (g) 2HCl (g)
H-H Cl-Cl H-Cl

Energy In(energy needed to break Energy Out(energy given out to from

bonds) bonds)

Heat of the reaction H=energy in – Energy Out

=678-862= -184 exothermic
Result in negative=energy out > energy in = exothermic

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

Example of endothermic reaction

Thermal decomposition of ammonia
2NH3 (g) N2 (g) +3H2 (g)
2 NN H-H

Energy In(energy needed to break Energy Out(energy given out to from

bonds) bonds)

Heat of the reaction H=energy In – Energy Out

=2346-2254= +92 endothermic
Result in Positive =energy out < energy in = endothermic

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

1) All neutralization reaction is exothermic

HCl (aq) + NaOH(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
2) All displacement reactions are exothermic
Mg(s) + H2SO4 (aq) MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) rise in temp. = 17°C
Zn(s) + H2SO4 (aq) ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) rise in temp.= 8°C
By measuring the rise in temperature, we can find the order of reactivity
of metals Mg > Zn (greater temp. rise)
Ex.

Temperature rise = 34-21= 13°C (Exothermic)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

Energy from fuels:

Fuel is any substance we use to provide energy Fuel is any substance we use to
provide energy

We convert the chemical energy in the fuel into another form of energy. Most
fuels burn (in air or oxygen) to give out energy in the form of heat.
All combustion and burning are exothermic.
Example of fuels:
1) fossil fuel of coal ,petroleum and natural gas
2) Ethanol (alcohol)
3) Hydrogen
4) Nuclear fuel (U-235) uranium
What makes a good fuel?
1) How much heat does it give out?
We want as much heat as possible, per tonne of fuel.
2) Does it cause pollution?
If it causes a lot of pollution, we may be better off without it!
3) Is it easily available?
We need a steady and reliable supply.
4) Is it easy and safe to store and transport?
Most fuels catch fire quite easily, so safety is always an issue.
5) How much does it cost?
The cheaper the better.

Burning of some fuels and amount of heat released:

1. Natural gas (consists of 90% methane CH4)
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) heat given out -55 KJ/mol.
2. Ethanol (bio-fuel) can be made from plant materials like sugar cane -
C2H5OH (l) + 3O2 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(l) heat given out-86KJ/mol.
3. Hydrogen: (Non fossil fuel)
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) 2H2O (g) heat given out -143KJ/mol.
1) Nuclear fuel (radioactive isotope. Uranium 235) (non fossil fuel )
Nuclear fuels are not burned. They contain unstable atoms called radioisotopes.
They break down naturally into new atoms giving out radiation and lot of energy.
Uranium 235 used in nuclear power stations to generate electricity as it is forced to be
broken down by shooting neutrons at uranium giving out energy without being burned or
oxidized.
Two new unstable atoms krypton and barium
Nuclear fuel advantages Nuclear fuel disadvantages
1. Huge amount of energy produced. 1. An explosion in nuclear power station could spread
2. No CO2 or other polluting gases are radioactive material over a huge area.
produced. 2. The waste material produced in nuclear power station is
also radioactive and may remain dangerous for hundreds of
years, finding a place to store it safely is a major problem

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

2) Electricity from chemical reactions (electro-chemical cells)

- Electricity is a current of electrons like heat. It is a form of energy

- A cell: a device to produce electrical energy from a
chemical reaction (where a redox reaction is giving out
energy in the form of current/electricity)
- This is the reverse of what happens during electrolysis where
chemical reaction is brought by the use of electrical energy.
Cell (exothermic)
Electrical energy Chemical reaction
Electrolysis
(endothermic)

1) Simple cells (Magnesium copper cell):

▪ Magnesium strip is dissolving. Why?

1. Magnesium is more reactive than copper, it has strong drive to
form positive ions(react readily) so when it is connected to the
copper strip it gives up electrons and goes into solutions as ions
and decrease in mass by time (dissolves)
Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2e (oxidation)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

2. Electrons flow along the wire to the copper strip as a current.

The bulb lights up as the current flow through it.
3. The solution contains Na+ and Cl- ions from sodium chloride and H+
and OH- from water. Hydrogen is less reactive than sodium so the H+
ions accept electrons from the copper strip.
2H+ (aq) + 2e H2(g) (reduction)

So the difference in reactivity has caused a redox reaction that gives out energy
in form of electricity.

A simple cell consists of two different metals in an electrolyte. Electrons flow

from the more reactive metal too the less reactive metal
The negative pole (Anode): made of Magnesium (more reactive)
The positive pole (Cathode): made of copper (less reactive)

Using other metals in simple cells:

The further apart the metals are in the reactivity series the higher the voltage will be.
Voltammeter Measures the push/ voltage that make electron flow)

For example:
1- 2.7 V for Cu/Mg
2- 0.47 V for copper/lead

Advantage battery or dry cell:

▪ Batteries are convenient source of energy because they are
portable and small used in toys, torches
▪ It does not contain liquid electrolyte. It has an electrolyte paste (allow ions
to flow) that will not leak/ spill.
▪ Battery dies when the reaction stops.

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

3) The hydrogen (fuel cell)/ flameless cell / -143KJ

Hydrogen (fuel) cell: hydrogen and oxygen combine without burning it is a

redox reaction. The energy is given out as electric current
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) 2H2O (l)

At the negative Pole (anode) At the Positive Pole (cathode)

Hydrogen loses electrons to the OH- ions. It is oxidized: The electrons are accepted by oxygen
2H2(g) + 4OH- (aq) 4H2O (I) + 4e- molecules.
A current of electrons flows through the wire to the Oxygen is reduced to OH ions:
positive pole. O2(g) + 2H20 (I) + 4e- 4OH (aq)
You can make use of it on the way. For example, pass it But the concentration of OH- ions in the
through light bulbs to light your home. electrolyte does not increase. Why not?
Adding the two half-equations gives the full equation for the redox reaction:
2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(I)
So the overall reaction is that hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.

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 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Year 9 Topic 8

- Hydrogen burns explosively in oxygen giving a huge amount of energy. It is

used to fuel space rockets. Hydrogen used in fuel cells (without burning) to
give energy if the form of electricity.
- Hydrogen is called the fuel future. It does not pollute because the only
combustion product is water. It is also considered a renewable source of
energy.
Hydrogen fuel for Motor vehicles
Advantages Disadvantages
1. Hydrogen produce more energy than any 1) Highly flammable possible
fuels when burned. disaster and should be handled with care
H2> ethanol> methane 2) Not easily stored and transported
2. Renewable source of energy obtained (by 3) Car engines should be redesigned
electrolysis of acidified water) (expensive)
3. No CO2 emissions (no pollution)
4. only water is formed no pollutants

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