Ekzoterm

Ekzoterm is a term used in chemistry to describe a process or reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat, into its surroundings. This release of energy causes the temperature of the surroundings to increase. The opposite of an exothermic process is an endothermic process, which absorbs energy from its surroundings.

In an exothermic reaction, the chemical bonds in the reactants contain more energy than the chemical bonds in the products. As the reaction proceeds, this excess energy is released. A common example of an exothermic reaction is combustion, such as the burning of wood or natural gas, which releases a significant amount of heat and light. Another example is the neutralization reaction between a strong acid and a strong base.

The change in enthalpy, denoted by the symbol ΔH, is used to quantify the heat released or absorbed in a chemical reaction at constant pressure. For exothermic reactions, ΔH is negative, indicating that the system has lost energy to the surroundings. For example, the combustion of methane has a ΔH value of approximately -890 kJ/mol.

Understanding exothermic processes is crucial in various fields, including industrial chemistry for designing reactors and managing heat output, as well as in everyday life, such as in hand warmers which utilize exothermic chemical reactions to generate warmth. Safety considerations are also important, as uncontrolled exothermic reactions can lead to explosions or fires.