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

The term "lower in energy" refers to a substance or system with less potential energy compared to another substance or system. In this context, liquid water is lower in energy and more stable than a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases, as it is formed through the exothermic reaction 2 H₂ (g) + O₂ (g) -> 2 H₂O (l) + energy, where energy is released. According to thermodynamics, substances with lower energy states are more stable, making liquid water more stable than the gas mixture.

Step-by-step solution

Define the term "lower in energy"

The term "lower in energy" refers to a substance or system having less potential energy in comparison to another substance or system. In the context of chemical reactions, lower energy often translates to more stable and less likely to undergo further reactions.

Compare liquid water's energy to a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases

In this step, we compare the energy states of liquid water and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases. Liquid water results from the combination of hydrogen and oxygen gases in a chemical reaction called the formation of water: 2 H₂ (g) + O₂ (g) -> 2 H₂O (l) + energy In this reaction, energy is released when the hydrogen and oxygen gases combine to form liquid water. This means that the energy state of the liquid water is lower than that of the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases.

Determine stability based on energy states

Now that we have established that liquid water is lower in energy than the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases, we can determine which of the two is more stable. According to thermodynamics, substances with lower energy states are more stable than substances with higher energy states. This means liquid water is more stable than the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases because it has a lower energy state. In conclusion, the term "lower in energy" means that a substance or system has less potential energy than another substance or system. Liquid water is lower in energy and more stable when compared to a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases, as observed in the formation of water reaction.