What kind of reaction occurs when a molecule of glucose reacts with oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water?
a.exothermic reaction
b.endothermic reaction
c.synthesis reaction
d.irreversible reaction
The combustion of glucose is an exothermic reaction.
The correct answer is a) exothermic reaction.
The kind of reaction that occurs when a molecule of glucose reacts with oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water is an exothermic reaction.
To understand this, let me explain the process of determining the type of reaction involved. In chemistry, one way to determine the type of reaction is by examining the energy exchange that takes place during the reaction.
In an exothermic reaction, energy is released or given off to the surroundings in the form of heat. This means that the products of the reaction have lower energy than the reactants. In the case of glucose reacting with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, energy is released in the form of heat.
On the other hand, in an endothermic reaction, energy is absorbed from the surroundings, resulting in an increase in the energy of the products compared to the reactants. An endothermic reaction would involve the absorption of heat instead of the release of heat.
A synthesis reaction involves the combination of two or more substances to form a more complex product. However, the reaction between glucose and oxygen does not involve the synthesis of a more complex product.
An irreversible reaction is a reaction that proceeds only in one direction and cannot be easily reversed. Although the reaction of glucose with oxygen is irreversible once it has occurred, this characteristic is not the primary factor in determining the kind of reaction.
Therefore, the correct answer is (a) exothermic reaction, as energy is released in the form of heat during the reaction.