Is the following reaction exothermic or endothermic? 2P + 5Cl2 → 2PCl5 ΔH° = - 886 kJ

Exothermic

Explanation:

The energy is the ability to perform a job or to produce heat, and chemical reactions involve a rearrangement of atoms between substances with rupture or formation of chemical bonds.

Endothermic reactions are those that absorb energy in the form of heat.

On the other hand, an exothermic reaction is a way in which energy is released from the system into the environment.

Enthalpy (ΔH) represents the exchange of energy between a thermodynamic system and its surroundings. An endothermic reaction will always have a enthalpy variation (ΔH) greater than zero (ΔH> 0). An exothermic reaction will always have a enthalpy variation (ΔH) less than zero (ΔH< 0).

So in this case, the reaction is exothermic.