Exothermic reaction moves forward with increase in Temp?

In summary, an equilibrium calculation using chem software showed that an exothermic syngas reaction (CH4+0.5O2 -> 2H2+CO) will proceed to completion at high temperatures. This may be due to the fact that there are more moles of products than reactants, and entropy may also play a role. Despite being exothermic, the equilibrium can still lie far to the right and the shift to the left may be minimal.
  • #1
leumas614
78
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I did an equilibrium calculation with some chem software that I have and it told me that a syngas reaction

[tex]CH4+0.5O2\rightarrow 2H_{2}+CO[/tex]

which is an exothermic reaction will proceed to completion at high temperature. If you increase temperature, that should drive the reaction backwards not forwards. I think it has something to do with the fact that there are more moles of products than reactants. Does it have something to do with entropy?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Just because reaction is exothermic doesn't mean its equilibrium can't lie far to the right, even in high temperatures. Shift to the left can be very small.

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1. What is an exothermic reaction?

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat. This means that the products of the reaction have less energy than the reactants, resulting in a decrease in temperature.

2. How does an exothermic reaction move forward with an increase in temperature?

An increase in temperature provides more energy for the reactant molecules, causing them to move faster and collide more frequently. This increases the chances of successful collisions and allows the reaction to proceed at a faster rate.

3. Is every exothermic reaction affected by temperature?

Yes, every chemical reaction is affected by temperature to some degree. However, the extent to which temperature affects the rate of an exothermic reaction depends on the specific reactants and conditions of the reaction.

4. What happens to an exothermic reaction if the temperature is too high?

If the temperature is too high, the reaction may proceed too quickly and become uncontrollable, resulting in a potential explosion or other hazardous situations. It is important to carefully control the temperature in exothermic reactions to ensure safety.

5. Can an exothermic reaction still occur at low temperatures?

Yes, an exothermic reaction can still occur at low temperatures, but it will proceed at a slower rate due to the lower energy available for the reactant molecules. In some cases, a catalyst may be used to lower the activation energy and increase the rate of the reaction at low temperatures.

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