500
During ONE chemical reaction, chemical bonds are broken and re-formed. Since the breaking of bonds takes energy and the formation of bonds releases energy, what determines if the OVERALL reaction is endothermic or exothermic?
Add up how much energy is taken in and how much energy is given off. If more energy is given off than taken in, the reaction is exothermic. If more energy is taken in than given off, the reaction is endothermic.