When methane gas, CH4, is burned in the presence of oxygen, CO2 and H2O are formed and heat energy is given off. Explain where this heat energy comes from. Include in your answer a discussion of the potential energy of the products and reactants and also the law of conservation of energy.

Question

Chemistry

Nikolai Blackburn

19 August, 16:01

When methane gas, CH4, is burned in the presence of oxygen, CO2 and H2O are formed and heat energy is given off. Explain where this heat energy comes from. Include in your answer a discussion of the potential energy of the products and reactants and also the law of conservation of energy.

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Demarcus Harrington · Answer 1

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy cannot be destroyed or created, it can only change its form, i. e. during the chemical reaction it can be absorbed from the surroundings and stored as potential energy of the products of that reaction (this is endothermic reaction) or it can be released as heat, while the potential energy of the products is less than potential energy of the reactants (this is exothermic reaction). Since in this reaction, energy is released as heat, this mean that some of the potential energy from reactants was transformed into heat, while the rest presents the potential energy of the products.