What is Exothermic: Definition and 60 Discussions

In thermodynamics, the term exothermic process (exo- : "outside") describes a process or reaction that releases energy from the system to its surroundings, usually in the form of heat, but also in a form of light (e.g. a spark, flame, or flash), electricity (e.g. a battery), or sound (e.g. explosion heard when burning hydrogen). Its etymology stems from the Greek prefix έξω (exō, which means "outwards") and the Greek word θερμικός (thermikόs, which means "thermal"). The term exothermic was first coined by Marcellin Berthelot.
The opposite of an exothermic process is an endothermic process, one that absorbs energy usually in the form of heat. The concept is frequently applied in the physical sciences to chemical reactions where chemical bond energy is converted to thermal energy (heat).

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. russ_watters

    Is Anaerobic Sewage Treatment Exothermic?

    And if so, how much heat is produced? Ok, so here's the problem. We are working with a generator salesman who is trying to sell a bunch of generators to a sewage treatment plant to capture the waste methane and burn it to make electricity. Great idea. The complication is that currently...
  2. S

    Is Hell exothermic or Endothermic ?

    Is Hell exothermic or Endothermic ?? :rofl: The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington engineering mid-term. The answer was so "profound" that the Professor shared it with colleagues, and the sharing obviously hasn't ceased... Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic...
  3. K

    Are all exothermic reactions chemical changes?

    Are all exothermic reactions chemical changes since they release heat?:confused:
  4. W

    Is energy transfer in a chemical reaction always from potential to kinetic?

    Endothermic / Exothermic I have to say that I am a little at loss here. I understand that an endothermic process absorbs more energy than it releases, and that an exothermic process is the opposite. However, I don't understand the implications in terms of kinetic and potential energy. Here is...
  5. P

    Is this exothermic reaction truly endoenergetic?

    I2 (g) + H2 --> 2HI dH = - 10 kJ/mol My book says that this sentence is true, but I do not agree. The breaking of bonds is an endoenergetic process and the formation of bonds is an exoenergetic process. If the reaction is exoenergetic this means that the exoenergetic process involves...
  6. S

    Is hell exothermic or endothermic?

    Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997. Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams. His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass...
  7. C

    Why are spontaneous reactions usually exothermic?

    I am having trouble understanding this.. If reactions are spontaneous when they create more entropy (disorder), why is it that most spontaneous reactions are exothermic? Such as an exothermic reaction like A + B ---> AB + Energy, AB then has lower energy than the reactants, which also means...
  8. U

    Endothermic and Exothermic Explained

    How can you tell when a reaction is endo or exothermic? From what i understand there are two ways to know: 1) if the enthaply(change in H) is greater than 0, it's endothermic. If the change in H is lower than 0, its exothermic. 2) Also,when the chemical bonds of the reactant molecules are...
  9. F

    Exothermic Reaction Origin: What is the Source?

    what is the origin of the engery liberated in an exothermic reaction? I've been hitting the books for this but can't find it. Seems simple enough though. I just need to be sure.
  10. Descartes

    Fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and anaerobic exothermic processes question

    I'm going to attempt to articulate my question with appropriate lucidity, but please let me know if I fail to do so. I am a vintner (a wine maker), so achieving a palatable batch of wine necessarily elicits some required understanding of chemistry and physics. I understand that the wine...
Back
Top