If we have to use a match to start a reaction, is it endothermic?

[Chocolaty]

If we have to use a match to start a reaction, is it endothermic?

I have searched for the answer in my book, wasted about 3 hours but to no avail. Anyone?

 

[GCT]

you really searched for 3 hours? I would have guessed you've never opened the text...really it doesn't get any easier then this.

 

[Chocolaty]

thanks for the "reply". Although that doesn't help me. Maybe it's easy for you but we're not all in the same grade, and you have to remember that, sir.

 

[Zurtex]

Well I typed define: endothermic into google and got this responce: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=de...ient=firefox&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial

That took no more than 3 seconds.

 

[lurflurf]

If we have to use a match to start a reaction, is it endothermic?

I have searched for the answer in my book, wasted about 3 hours but to no avail. Anyone?

An endothermic reaction is like pushing a rock up a hill.
An exothermic reaction is like rolling a rock down a hill.
A match is like giving a rock a shove.
Either type of reation may require a start from a match, after that the endothermic reation absorbs energy (often heat), while the exothermic reation releases energy (often heat).
So in short more information is needed to answer the question.

 

[GCT]

Actually, there's slightly more to this problem.

Chocolaty, you'll need to observe a free energy diagram. Most reactions, although exothermic require an energy input to surpass the activation energy barrier, so in short, you can't tell whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic simply by the fact that it proceeded through the input of heat.