Identify the error in this statement: “If a reaction transfers energy to the surroundings the product molecules must have more energy than the reactants”

See explanation

Explanation:

A reaction may be exothermic or endothermic. In an exothermic reaction, energy is given out from the reaction system. This means that energy is transferred to the surroundings and the reactants have more energy than the products.

A reaction in which energy is absorbed from the surroundings is called an endothermic reaction. In this case, the products have more energy than the reactants.

So the statement "If a reaction transfers energy to the surroundings the product molecules must have more energy than the reactants” is erroneous. The error in the statement is the part that says "...the product molecules must have more energy than the reactants”. It ought to have read, "the reactants have more energy than the products" in accordance with the explanation above.

the number of valence electrons for each molecule or ion is shown beneath the structure. remember hydrogen will not have more than two electrons. this hydrogen is part of a covalent bond (sharing two electrons). a double bond here would cause hydrogen to share four electrons with phosphorus.