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.
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In an exothermic process, the enthalpy change (ฮH) is negative because energy is released.
Common examples include combustion reactions, such as burning wood or gasoline.
The products of an exothermic reaction are typically more stable than the reactants due to lower energy content.
Exothermic processes can be represented on a potential energy diagram where the products have lower energy than the reactants.
Bond formation in a chemical reaction is often exothermic because it releases energy.
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Related terms
Endothermic Process: A chemical reaction or physical change that absorbs heat from its surroundings, resulting in a positive enthalpy change (ฮH).
Enthalpy (ฮH): A thermodynamic quantity representing the total heat content of a system. It is used to quantify the heat exchange in chemical reactions.