Which of the following statements about the study of energy changes in chemistry is correct?

• A. Energy changes in chemical reactions are always associated with heat transfer.
• B. The study of energy changes in chemical reactions is known as thermodynamics.
• C. Energy cannot be converted from one form to another during chemical processes.
• D. All chemical reactions absorb energy from their surroundings.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key concept of the problem, which is about energy changes in chemistry and the terminology used to describe these changes.
2. Step 2: Recognize that energy changes in chemical reactions can involve heat transfer, work, or other forms of energy exchange, but are not always limited to heat transfer alone.
3. Step 3: Recall that the study of energy changes, including heat and work in chemical reactions, is called thermodynamics. This field explains how energy is conserved and transformed.
4. Step 4: Note that energy can indeed be converted from one form to another during chemical processes, such as potential energy to kinetic energy or chemical energy to heat, so the statement denying this is incorrect.
5. Step 5: Understand that not all chemical reactions absorb energy; some release energy (exothermic), while others absorb energy (endothermic), so the statement that all reactions absorb energy is false.