Thermochemistry is the study of the
energy and
heat associated with
chemical reactions and/or physical transformations. A reaction may release or absorb energy, and a phase change may do the same, such as in
melting and
boiling. Thermochemistry focuses on these energy changes, particularly on the
system's energy exchange with its
surroundings. Thermochemistry is useful in predicting reactant and product quantities throughout the course of a given reaction. In combination with
entropy determinations, it is also used to predict whether a reaction is spontaneous or non-spontaneous, favorable or unfavorable.