Which of the following is true of an exergonic chemical reaction?
A.Reactants lose mass as products are reformed
B.Bonds are broken in reactants and new bonds are formed in products
C.No activation energy is required to initiate it
D.The energy released is captured by a catalyst
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The correct answer is B: Bonds are broken in reactants and new bonds are formed in products.
To determine which of the given options is true for an exergonic chemical reaction, we need to understand the concept of exergonic reactions. An exergonic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat or light. This energy is the difference in potential energy between the reactants and the products.
In an exergonic reaction, certain bonds in the reactants must be broken in order to form new bonds in the products. This process involves the rearrangement of atoms and the breaking and formation of chemical bonds. As a result, option B, "Bonds are broken in reactants and new bonds are formed in products," is the correct choice.
To arrive at this answer, you can also eliminate the other options by analyzing their accuracy in relation to exergonic reactions.
Option A states that "Reactants lose mass as products are reformed." In general, a chemical reaction does not lead to the loss or gain of mass. The law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only rearranged. Therefore, option A is not an accurate statement for an exergonic reaction.
Option C states that "No activation energy is required to initiate it." Activation energy refers to the initial energy input required to start a chemical reaction. All chemical reactions, including exergonic reactions, require some activation energy to initiate the reaction. Therefore, option C is not true for an exergonic reaction.
Option D states that "The energy released is captured by a catalyst." A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy. While a catalyst can facilitate the reaction, it does not necessarily capture the energy released. Therefore, option D is not accurate for an exergonic reaction.
In conclusion, option B, "Bonds are broken in reactants and new bonds are formed in products," is the true statement for an exergonic chemical reaction.