Endothermic

This article is about the physical effect. For self-maintained thermal homeostasis, see Endotherm.

In thermodynamics, the word endothermic ("within-heating") describes a process or reaction in which the system absorbs energy from the surroundings in the form of heat. Its etymology stems from the prefix endo- (derived from the Greek word ένδον, endon, "within") and the Greek word thermasi, (meaning “to heat”). The opposite of an endothermic process is an exothermic process, one that releases energy in the form of heat. The term endothermic was coined by Marcellin Berthelot (25 October 1827 – 18 March 1907).

The concept is frequently applied in physical sciences to, for example, chemical reactions, where thermal energy (heat) is converted to chemical bond energy.

Implications for chemical reactions

Chemical endothermic reactions need heat to be performed. In a thermochemical reaction that is endothermic, the heat is placed on the reactants side (heat is necessary for and absorbed during the reaction).

See also

• Endergonic
• Exothermic
• Exergonic
• Exergonic reaction

External links

• Endothermic Definition - MSDS Hyper-Glossary
• School experiment