Bond breaking
What Bond breaking means in Chemistry GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Bond breaking
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Bond breaking in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
Energy must be supplied to break bonds in the reactants, because the atoms are pulled apart against the attraction holding them together.
Endothermic, because energy must be supplied to overcome the attraction holding the atoms together.
Process that is endothermic because energy must be supplied to overcome attractions.
Topics that use Bond breaking
- The energy change of reactions (HT only) (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Activation energy
- Bond energies
- Bond making
- Endothermic
- Exothermic
- Exothermic reaction
- Overall energy change
- Bond formation
Using Bond breaking in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
Practise Chemistry questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge