One basic high school concept problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of enthalpy changes in bond-breaking and bond-forming processes, as presented in a high school textbook chapter on 'Energetics'. Participants explore whether the theory that bond-breaking is associated with energy absorption and bond-forming with energy emission applies universally to all such reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that breaking a bond requires energy input to overcome the attractive forces between atoms, thus supporting the idea of energy absorption during bond-breaking.
  • Another participant emphasizes that while the relationship between bond-breaking and energy absorption, and bond-forming and energy emission is generally true, it does not determine the overall energy change of the reaction, which can vary based on the specific bonds involved.
  • This participant further explains that a reaction is exothermic if the energy released during bond formation exceeds the energy required for bond breaking, and endothermic if the opposite is true.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the principles of energy absorption and emission related to bond-breaking and bond-forming, but there is no consensus on the implications for all reactions, as the final energy outcome can vary.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the complexities involved in different reactions or the specific conditions under which the energy relationships hold true.

jeremy22511
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Very basic (I'm a high school student):

Background
I'm studying a chapter in my textbook titled 'Energetics'. It touches on enthalpy changes.
It mentions that bond-breaking processes are associated with energy absorption and bond-forming processes are assciated with energy emission.

Question
Does the theory apply to all bond-breaking and bond-forming reactions?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Yes. "Bonding" means that there is an attractive force between two atoms. Breaking that bond means that you have to do work against this force separating the atoms from its equilibrium distance to a large distance ("infinity"). I.e., you have to do work or invest energy.
 
Note that while this statement (breaking - absorption, forming - emission) is always true, it doesn't state anything abut the final outcome of the reaction. Quite often people confuse these things.

During each reaction some bonds are broken, others are formed. First step (breaking) requires energy, second step (forming) produces energy.

Reaction will be exothermic is amount or energy produced in second step is larger than the amount of energy consumed in the first step, or endothermic if you need to put more energy into breaking bonds than you may get from bond creation.

--
 
Thanks very much XD
I just needed a confirmation.
 

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