Do acid base reactions produce heat?

1 Answer
Mar 8, 2016

The simple answer is yes. Why?

Explanation:

#"Bond breaking is an endothermic process"#; #"Bond making is an exothermic process"#.

The generalized acid base reaction is:

#H^+ + ""^(-)OH rarr H_2O#
else,
#H_3O^+ + ""^(-)OH rarr 2H_2O#

Both formalisms represent the MAKING of a strong #O-H# bond. The acid base reaction thus involves the transfer of heat to the surroundings on the basis of the #O-H# bond.

Note that the next time you do an acid base titration in the lab, you can usually notice the exotherm, as equivalence is reached. Try it.