Endothermic Reaction
Definition
An endothermic reaction is one that absorbs heat from its surroundings. In this process, more heat goes into breaking bonds in reactants than gets released when new bonds form in products.
Analogy
Think of an endothermic reaction like a sponge soaking up water. The sponge (the reaction) absorbs the water (the heat), making it wetter (more energetic).
Related terms
Thermochemistry: The study of energy changes that occur during chemical reactions and changes in state.
Heat of Reaction/Enthalpy Change: The total amount of heat absorbed or released during a chemical reaction.
Exothermic Reaction: A type of chemical process that releases heat into its surroundings, opposite to an endothermic reaction.
"Endothermic Reaction" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (6)
AP Chemistry - 5.6 Reaction Energy Profile
AP Chemistry - 6.2 Energy Diagrams of Reactions
AP Chemistry - 7.9 Introduction to Le Châtelier’s Principle
AP Chemistry - 7.10 Reaction Quotient and Le Châtelier’s Principle
AP Chemistry - 7.14 Free Energy of Dissolution
AP Chemistry - 9.3 Gibbs Free Energy and Thermodynamic Favorability
Practice Questions (1)
- How does an increase in temperature shift an endothermic reaction?
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