can you explain why energy must initially be consumed in an exothermic
Exothermic reactions are those reactions which release energy in the surroundings due to the reaction between the molecules.
In some exothermic reactions, energy is required initially to initiate the reaction.
This is because the reactant molecules need some minimum amount of energy to react which is also known as activation energy.
Hence initially, to cross the activation energy barrier, the reactant molecules consume some amount of energy.
But once the reaction is initiated, the energy produced in the exothermic reaction is capable enough to provide enough energy to the reactant molecules to cross the barrier.
Hence there is no more energy required from the surroundings.
Hence energy must be consumed initially in an exothermic reaction to initiate the reaction by providing sufficient energy so that the molecules can cross the activation energy barrier.
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