---
title: "Surroundings — AP Chem Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Surroundings are everything outside the system in AP Chem thermochemistry. Heat flows between system and surroundings, and that's how you spot endo vs. exo."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-chem/key-terms/surroundings"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Chemistry"
---

# Surroundings — AP Chem Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

In chemistry, surroundings refer to everything in the universe that is not part of the system being studied.

## Related Study Guides

- [6.1 Endothermic and Exothermic Processes](/ap-chem/unit-6/endothermic-exothermic-processes/study-guide/IBke22j0ulvsM9ps3QPJ)

## Review

### Related Terms

- Thermodynamic System: This refers to a specific portion of matter in a given space, on which attention is focused for either study or experimentation.
- Universe (in thermodynamics): This term refers to a combination of a system and its surroundings.
- Boundary: This term refers to an imaginary surface that separates a system from its surroundings.