Question

What is meant by the term lower in energy? Which is lower in energy, a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases or liquid water? How do you know? Which of the two is more stable? How do you know?

Short answer

Liquid water (Liq H₂O) is lower in energy and more stable than the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases (H₂+O₂).

Step-by-step solution

Definition of the term lower energy

A system or an element or a compound possessing slower movement of particles than another system or an element or a compound is defined as lower energy.

All the stable compounds exist in lower energy than the unstable ones. It is because as the energy of particles increases, the compound loses its stability.

Comparing the energies of the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases and liquid water

The energies of gaseous particles are more than the liquid particles, which in turn are more than the solid particles.

It is because the particles of gases are more discrete and therefore, randomly moving, show instability.

On the other hand, liquid particles are less random and therefore, more stable.

While comparing the energies,a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases has higher energy than liquid water and therefore, liquid water is more stable than a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases.

The energies of liquids are lesser in comparison to gases making liquids more stable than gases.