Exoérmica

Exoérmica, also spelled exothermic, is a term used in chemistry and thermodynamics to describe a chemical reaction or process that releases heat to its surroundings. The term is derived from the Greek words "exo," meaning outside, and "therme," meaning heat. In an exoérmica reaction, the energy released in the form of heat is greater than the energy absorbed to break the bonds in the reactants. This excess energy is then transferred to the surroundings, causing the temperature of the reaction mixture to increase.

Exoérmica reactions are often characterized by a decrease in enthalpy (ΔH), which is a measure of the heat content of a system. The enthalpy change for an exoérmica reaction is negative (ΔH < 0), indicating that the reaction is exoérmica. Examples of exoérmica reactions include the combustion of fuels, the neutralization of acids and bases, and the formation of many ionic compounds from their constituent elements.

The opposite of an exoérmica reaction is an endoérmica reaction, which absorbs heat from its surroundings. Exoérmica reactions are commonly used in various applications, such as in the production of heat for industrial processes, in the operation of internal combustion engines, and in the design of exothermic batteries. Understanding the principles of exoérmica reactions is crucial in fields such as chemistry, materials science, and engineering.