Quantifying changes in chemical reactions
Chemical reactions involve changes in substances and energy. Quantifying these changes has a number of scientific and industrial applications. For example, calculating the generation of greenhouse gases and the energy released is essential for evaluating fuels, and developing cleaner energy sources with high energy output and low carbon emissions.
The coefficients in a balanced chemical equation allow for calculating the amounts of substances in the reaction using stoichiometry. With a balanced thermochemical equation, the theoretical amount of greenhouse gases and energy produced from the combustion of a given fuel can be calculated. When enthalpy or energy changes are unknown, calorimetry can be used to measure these values.
This resource revises quantifying changes in chemical reactions and within quantifying changes in chemical reactions there are 5 key concepts:
- Quantifying Substances in Chemical Reactions
- Quantifying Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
- Measuring the Energy Content of a Fuel Using Standard Laboratory Setups
- Using Calorimeters for Accurate Heat Measurement
- Calculating Energy in Food.
To determine if this resource will benefit you, start by answering the following questions:
- How are balanced thermochemical equations used in the calculation of the amounts of reactants or products, as well as energy changes in a reaction?
- How are fuels evaluated, based on their energy content and greenhouse gas emissions?
- How is the energy content of a fuel determined using calorimetry?
The answers to these questions are provided on the following pages. Use this resource to refresh your memory, reinforce your understanding of these concepts, and prepare more effectively for university-level learning.