Spontaneous Reactions and Enthelpy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the concepts of entropy and spontaneous reactions in the context of AP Chemistry. It emphasizes that reactions do not create energy, aligning with the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy is conserved. In exothermic reactions, energy is released as heat, but this energy was already stored in the reactants. Consequently, the products of these reactions possess less energy than the reactants, explaining how spontaneous reactions can occur without violating the conservation of energy.
LordWillO
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Today in AP Chemistry we started learning about entropy and spontaneous reactions. Could someone explain on an undergraduate level (preferably not using calculus) how, if the universe has a fixed amount of mass and energy, that reactions can be spontaneous and create their own energy? Thanks!
 
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Reactions don't create energy. There is the first law of thermodynamics which says that energy is conserved. If a reaction is exothermic, heat is given off in the course of the reaction. However this type of energy was stored in the reactands. The products of the reaction have less energy.
 

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