For a particular chemical reaction, the absorbed energy is \(800 \mathrm{~kJ}\) to break old bonds, and \(400 \mathrm{~kJ}\) is released on forming new bonds. Calculate \(\Delta E_{\mathrm{rxn}}\) and comment on whether this reaction is exothermic or endothermic. Explain why.

Understanding the energy changes that occur during a chemical reaction is fundamental to chemistry. Every reaction involves the making and breaking of chemical bonds, and each of these processes has an associated energy change.

When a substance undergoes a chemical reaction, bonds between atoms are broken, and new bonds are formed. Breaking bonds always requires energy, while forming bonds releases energy. The energy required to break a bond is known as bond energy. If the energy released when the new bonds are formed is greater than the energy required to break the original bonds, excess energy is released into the surroundings. Conversely, if the energy required to break the bonds is greater than the energy released on forming new bonds, the reaction absorbs energy.

For example, in the given exercise, the absorbed energy is to break bonds is higher than the energy released by new bond formation. By calculating the change in energy, known as \(\Delta E_{\mathrm{rxn}}\), students can determine if the reaction is endothermic or exothermic. This is done by subtracting the energy released from the energy absorbed during the reaction.

In endothermic reactions, the energy absorbed to break bonds exceeds the energy released upon bond formation. This results in a net absorption of energy from the environment, making \(\Delta E_{\mathrm{rxn}}\) positive, as indicated by the positive value of 400 kJ in our exercise.

Endothermic reactions lead to a decrease in temperature of the surroundings since the system absorbs heat. These reactions often require continuous energy input to keep the reaction going, for instance, through heating. Common examples of endothermic reactions include photosynthesis, the cooking of an egg, or the reaction between baking soda and vinegar.

The positive \(\Delta E_{\mathrm{rxn}}\), as seen in the provided solution, clearly stands out as a classic characteristic of an endothermic process. This concept emphasizes the importance of energy balance in chemical reactions and helps predict how a reaction interacts with its environment in terms of energy exchange.

Bond energy is a measure of the strength of a chemical bond and is defined as the amount of energy needed to break one mole of bonds in a substance, under standard conditions. It's an intrinsic property of a chemical bond and varies for different types of bonds and molecules.

In chemical reactions, the total energy change (\(\Delta E_{\mathrm{rxn}}\)) is determined by comparing the bond energies of the reactants and products. If the total bond energy of the reactants is greater than that of the products, the reaction is exothermic and releases energy. Conversely, if the reactants have lower bond energies than the products, it indicates an endothermic reaction that absorbs energy.

To provide a deeper understanding of the exercise, the 800 kJ absorbed is an indication of the bond energy required to break reactant bonds, while the 400 kJ released represents the bond energy yielded from bond formation in products. The difference between these energy amounts reflects the net energy change for the reaction, reinforcing the concept of bond energy's critical role in determining the thermal character of a reaction.