Overall Energy Change
Definition
The overall energy change in a chemical reaction is the difference between the energy absorbed to break bonds in the reactants and the energy released when new bonds are formed in the products.
Analogy
Think of it like a bank transaction. You start with a certain amount of money (energy) in your account. When you make a purchase (break bonds), you withdraw some money. But then, if you get paid (form new bonds), you deposit money back into your account. The overall change is how much more or less money you have at the end compared to what you started with.
Related terms
Endothermic Reaction: A reaction where energy is absorbed from surroundings, usually in form of heat.
Exothermic Reaction: A reaction that releases energy into its surroundings, usually as heat, light, sound or electricity.
Activation Energy: The minimum quantity of energy which reacting species must possess in order to undergo a specified reaction.
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