Year 8 - Science
Exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions
Fuels and energetics
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit examines energy changes in state, exothermic and endothermic reactions, and energy transfers in various processes. It emphasises objectivity, accuracy, and precision in scientific enquiries, data interpretation, and the use of tables, graphs, and reliable methods.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify whether a chemical reaction is exothermic or endothermic and explain how you know.
Key Notes
- An exothermic chemical reaction causes an increase in temperature (of the surroundings).
- An endothermic chemical reaction causes a decrease in temperature (of the surroundings).
- An exothermic reaction transfers energy from the reactants to the surroundings.
- An endothermic reaction transfers energy from the surroundings to the products.
Vocabulary To Learn
- exothermic chemical reaction: is a type of reaction in which energy is transferred from the reactants to the surroundings, e.g. combustion.
- endothermic chemical reaction: is a type of reaction in which energy from the surroundings is transferred to the products, e.g. photosynthesis.
- dissipate: Thermal energy can dissipate which means it can be transferred to the environment and wasted.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The difference between the surroundings (where the reaction takes place, e.g. solution) and the environment (where the reaction mixture is, e.g. classroom). The existence of cold.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
An exothermic chemical reaction causes an increase in temperature (of the surroundings). An endothermic chemical reaction causes a decrease in temperature (of the surroundings).
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'exothermic chemical reaction'
is a type of reaction in which energy is transferred from the reactants to the surroundings, e.g. combustion. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: The difference between the surroundings (where the reaction takes place, e.g. solution) and the environment (where the reaction mixture is, e.g. classroom). The existence of cold. Correction: Use the separate terms of surroundings and environment throughout the lesson. Explain that thermal energy transfer only takes place from somewhere that is warmer and somewhere that is cooler.
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