This comparison covers Exothermic vs Endothermic Reaction Profiles within Reaction Profiles for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Reaction Profiles in Energy Changes for GCSE Chemistry with 28 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 13 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚖️ Exothermic vs Endothermic Reaction Profiles
| Feature | Exothermic | Endothermic |
|---|---|---|
| Products vs Reactants | Products LOWER | Products HIGHER |
| ΔH sign | Negative (−) | Positive (+) |
| Temperature change | Surroundings get HOTTER | Surroundings get COLDER |
| Energy transfer direction | Reaction → Surroundings | Surroundings → Reaction |
| Effect of catalyst | Lower peak, same ΔH | Lower peak, same ΔH |
Practice questions for Reaction Profiles
What does activation energy represent on a reaction profile?
Explain how a catalyst affects the activation energy shown on a reaction profile. [2 marks]
Quick recall flashcards
What does the y-axis show on a reaction profile?
Energy
What is activation energy?
The minimum energy particles need to react when they collide