Lämpöreaktio

Lämpöreaktio, often translated as thermal reaction or heat reaction, refers to a chemical process that either releases or absorbs heat. In chemistry, reactions are classified as exothermic if they release thermal energy into their surroundings, often observed as an increase in temperature. Conversely, endothermic reactions absorb thermal energy from their surroundings, leading to a decrease in temperature.

The enthalpy change, symbolized by ΔH, quantifies the heat exchanged during a reaction at constant pressure. For exothermic reactions, ΔH is negative, indicating a net release of heat. For endothermic reactions, ΔH is positive, signifying a net absorption of heat. Understanding lämpöreaktio is crucial in many fields, including chemical engineering, where it impacts process design and safety, and in biology, where metabolic processes often involve these energy transformations. For example, combustion is a highly exothermic lämpöreaktio, while processes like photosynthesis are endothermic.