Reaction Energy Diagrams – AP Chemistry

1. A catalyst speeds up a reaction by:

Increasing ΔH of the reaction Lowering the activation energy Eₐ Providing energy to reactants Increasing temperature

2. In an endothermic reaction, the energy diagram shows:

Products at lower energy than reactants Products at higher energy than reactants No activation energy Reactants and products at same energy

3. The activation energy for the REVERSE reaction equals:

Eₐ(forward) ΔH Eₐ(forward) − ΔH (for exothermic) Eₐ(forward) + ΔH (for exothermic)