What is a common misconception about energy in reactions?

• A. Energy is transferred to the surroundings.
• B. Energy is created during the reaction.
• C. Energy changes color.
• D. Energy is always increased.

Answer: (B)

Energy in chemical reactions is conserved; it can only be transformed or transferred, not created or destroyed. The common misconception is that energy is created during a reaction. In reality, the energy stored in chemical bonds can be released as heat or light (if the reaction is exothermic) or absorbed from the surroundings (if the reaction is endothermic). The total amount of energy in the system plus surroundings stays the same. So a reaction might release energy to the surroundings, or it might take in energy from the surroundings, but it does not create new energy out of nothing. Color changes can happen for reasons related to changes in molecular states, not because energy is generated, and energy levels can either increase or decrease depending on the reaction direction and what’s happening with the bonds.