Are single displacement reactions exothermic?
1 Answer
Are single displacement reactions exothermic
Yes, single displacement reactions are exothermic.
Definition
The general formula for a single replacement reaction is
#"A + B-C → B + A-C"#
where
The reaction produces a new element
Energy changes
When a chemical reaction takes place, energy is either released or absorbed.
If energy is released, the reaction is exothermic.
Bond formation is an exothermic process.
Energy is released because the atoms are going to a lower energy state.
By the same argument, it takes energy to break a bond (endothermic).
Conclusion
In the reaction
If formation of the
The reaction will be exothermic.
It the process is endothermic, the reaction will not occur spontaneously, because the system is already in its more stable state.
Hence, single displacement reactions are exothermic.
