An exothermic graph is a visual representation of an exothermic reaction, which is a process that releases heat to its surroundings. In chemistry, these reactions are characterized by a decrease in the system’s enthalpy, leading to a net release of energy. The graph typically plots the energy of the system on the vertical axis against the progress of the reaction on the horizontal axis.
In an exothermic graph, you will notice that the energy level of the reactants is higher than that of the products. This decline indicates that energy has been released during the reaction. The difference in energy between the reactants and products represents the quantity of heat released, often referred to as the enthalpy change (ΔH), which is negative in exothermic reactions.
Moreover, exothermic graphs often feature an activation energy peak – a temporary rise in energy required to initiate the reaction. Once this energy barrier is overcome, the reaction proceeds, releasing energy as it reaches the lower energy state of the products.