question 201 on destroyer

[patricklin27]

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basically, destroyer is saying that during exothermic reactions, there will be an increase in kinetic energy but decrease in potential energy. if im not correct, they are talking about the substance's kinetic energy and potential energy and not the surrounding's?

isn't that statement false? if you decrease the temperature, you will decrease the kinetic energy and possibly the potential energy if it changes phase. it seems to contradict their explanation of problem 113 where it mentions that if a substance's temperature is decreased, kinetic energy decreases and the potential energy stays the same (unless it change phases).

 

[Xo1991]

Potential energy, as temp decreases, decreases only slightly while in the same phase.

 

[patricklin27]

so why in their explanation would they say that exothermic reactions are increasing kinetic energy?

 

[mjzgrk]

If i am understanding your question correctly than, Because average kinetic energy is proportional to the temperature...increase in temperature (expthermic=releasing heat) will speed up the molecules of the surrounding! Let me know if that is what you were asking....