This topic explains the difference between Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions. There are number of chemical reactions in Chemistry and they are divided into many sub and main reactions. Similar is the case with the endothermic and exothermic reactions in Chemistry. These release energy in the form of sound, light, cold or heat.
In simple terms, the endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surrounding that is in the form of heat. While, the exothermic reaction releases energy into the surrounding from the system.
A popular example of endothermic chemical reaction is photosynthesis. During this process, plants absorbs energy from the Sun and converts it into carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. While an example for the exothermic reaction is the table salt – it is a mixture of sodium and chlorine, which yields to table salt.
Endothermic Reactions
The endothermic process is a term that describes a reaction where the system absorbs the energy from its surrounding in the form of heat. Few examples of endothermic process is photosynthesis, evaporating liquids, melting ice, dry ice, alkanes cracking, thermal decomposition, ammonium chloride in water and much more.
Exothermic Reactions
The exothermic reaction is the opposite of an endothermic reaction. It releases energy by light or heat to its surrounding. Few examples are neutralization, burning a substance, reactions of fuels, deposition of dry ice, respiration, solution of sulfuric acid into water and much more.
Endothermic Reaction |
Exothermic Reaction |
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A reaction that the system absorbs energy from its surrounding in the form of heat. |
A reaction that releases energy from the system in the form of heat. |
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The energy is absorbed from the surround into the reaction |
The energy is released from the system to its environment. |
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Energy in the form of heat |
Energy is released as heat, electricity, light or sound. |
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Melting ice, evaporation, cooking, gas molecules, photosynthesis are few examples |
Rusting iron, settling, chemical bonds, explosions, nuclear fission are a few examples. |