The diagram represents the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form hydrogen gas (H2) and chlorine gas (Cl2). Which statement best describes the reaction?

(1 point)

The formation of the products releases activation energy, and this energy is less than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

The formation of the products releases activation energy, and this energy is greater than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

The formation of the products releases bond energy, and this energy is less than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

The formation of the products releases bond energy, and this energy is greater than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

The correct statement is:

The formation of the products releases bond energy, and this energy is less than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

To determine which statement best describes the reaction, we need to understand the concepts of activation energy and bond energy.

Activation energy is the amount of energy needed to start a reaction. It is usually required to break the bonds in the reactant molecules before a new bond can form in the products.

Bond energy, on the other hand, is the amount of energy required to break a specific bond. It is the energy released when a bond forms or absorbed when a bond is broken.

Based on the diagram that represents the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid (HCl), we can see that the HCl molecule is being broken down into hydrogen gas (H2) and chlorine gas (Cl2). This means that the bonds in the HCl molecule are being broken, and new bonds are forming in the hydrogen and chlorine gases.

The formation of the products (H2 and Cl2) requires breaking the bond between hydrogen and chlorine in the HCl molecule. This means that energy needs to be absorbed (endothermic process) to overcome the bond energy and break the H-Cl bond.

Therefore, the correct statement is:

The formation of the products releases bond energy, and this energy is greater than the energy that is absorbed by the reactants.

What was the answer?