| Feature | Exothermic | Endothermic |
|---|---|---|
| Products vs Reactants | Products LOWER | Products HIGHER |
| ÎH sign | Negative (â) | Positive (+) |
| Temperature change | Surroundings get HOTTER | Surroundings get COLDER |
| Energy transfer direction | Reaction â Surroundings | Surroundings â Reaction |
| Effect of catalyst | Lower peak, same ÎH | Lower peak, same ÎH |
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.
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