The energy that is needed to start a chemical reaction is called:
a
chemical reactions do not need energy to start
b
activation energy
c
start-up energy
d
exothermic energy
b
activation energy
The energy that is needed to start a chemical reaction is called activation energy (option b).
The correct answer is b) activation energy.
To find the answer to this question, we can break down the options and understand the concepts behind them.
a) The statement "chemical reactions do not need energy to start" is incorrect. All chemical reactions require some amount of energy to start. Otherwise, they would not occur spontaneously.
b) Activation energy is the energy required to initiate a chemical reaction. It is the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reactant molecules to transform into product molecules.
c) Start-up energy is not a commonly used term in chemistry. It is not the correct term for the energy needed to start a chemical reaction.
d) Exothermic energy refers to the energy that is released during a chemical reaction. It is not the energy needed to start a reaction.
Therefore, the correct answer is b) activation energy.