Question

How can I draw a simple energy profile for an exothermic reaction in which 100 kJ mol-1 is evolved, and which has an activation energy of 50 kJmol-1?

Answer 1

You can start with a generic potential energy diagram for an exothermic reaction.

http://academics.tctc.edu/science/CHM/CHM/chemistry100_content

A reaction is defined as exothermic if you put in less energy to break the bonds of the reactants - the is the activation energy - than it is released when the products are formed.

So, the activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to take place. In your case, you need at least `"50 kJ/mol"` of energy to get the reaction going.

The heat evolved during the reaction, `DeltaH`, will be negative because the products are at a lower energy level than the reactants. In your case, the heat released will be

`DeltaH = "- 100 kJ/mol"`

Here's what an energy diagram for such a reaction could look like

http://www.gcsescience.com/rc24-energy-level-diagram.htm

I've assumed the energy level of the reactants to be `"200 kJ"`. The activation energy will make the energy of the reaction peak at `"250 kJ"`; the energy level of the products will be lower than that of the products by `"100 kJ"`, the heat evolved during the reaction.

In an exothermic reaction, the products will always be lower in energy than the reactants; in this case, the products are at `"100 kJ"`, `"100 kJ"` lower than what the energy of the reactants was.