Exothermic process

Definition

An exothermic process is a chemical reaction or physical change that releases heat to its surroundings. This release of energy usually results in an increase in the temperature of the surroundings.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In an exothermic process, the enthalpy change (ΔH) is negative because energy is released.
2. Common examples include combustion reactions, such as burning wood or gasoline.
3. The products of an exothermic reaction are typically more stable than the reactants due to lower energy content.
4. Exothermic processes can be represented on a potential energy diagram where the products have lower energy than the reactants.
5. Bond formation in a chemical reaction is often exothermic because it releases energy.

Review Questions

• What happens to the enthalpy (ΔH) during an exothermic process?
• Name two common examples of exothermic reactions.
• How does an exothermic process affect the stability and energy content of products compared to reactants?

Related terms

Endothermic Process: A chemical reaction or physical change that absorbs heat from its surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change (ΔH).

Enthalpy (ΔH): A thermodynamic quantity representing the total heat content of a system. It is used to quantify the heat exchange in chemical reactions.

Activation Energy:

The minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a specific chemical reaction.