ok i was doing a heat release question where i am given two molecules and the bond energies of each of their pieces and a reaction
i was asked to calculate the change in heat for the reaction
i found that the reactants side was 345 less than the products side
i know the formula says that i am to take the products side and subtract from the reactants side but explain to me how that makes logical sense
that would mean you get an answer reactants-products=-345
i knew this but i thought about it and i wrote +345 (i got it wrong) because if it were the other way that would mean that the reactants give up an amount of energy less than that which the products need to form and the reaction gives off energy this is impossible
(no free lunch rule)
how can u need more energy than u have and still give off energy
(energy is measured from the point of view of the system remember)