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2. What is the primary difference between an endothermic process and an exothermic process?
ENDOTHERMIC – ENERGY GOES INTO THE SYSTEM EXOTHERMIC – ENERGY GOES OUT OF THE SYSTEM
- Energy - System
The ability (or capacity) of a system to do work The part of the universe we wish to focus our
or supply (or produce) heat attention on
- Work - Surroundings
The transfer of energy from one mechanical The rest of the universe that is not the system
system to another. (A force acting over a distance)
- Heat - Endothermic
Energy that transfers from one object to another Chemical reaction that is accompanied by the
because of a temperature difference between them absorption of heat into the system
- Temperature - Exothermic
Temperature indicates the direction in which energy Chemical reaction that is accompanied by the
flows (as heat) when two objects are in thermal contact release of heat from the system
4. Name the following phase changes and identify each of them as either as endothermic or an exothermic.
When water vapor in the air comes into contact with something cool, such as the outside of a cold glass of water,
its molecules slow down and get closer together. When that happens, the energy from the warmer air transfers
into the cold glass causing the water vapor in the air to condense into liquid drops on your glass!
6. Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy in the following examples:
7. Describe the transfer of energy between the skin and the surroundings as a person perspires and the sweat
evaporates.
You sweat when your body gets hot to maintain stable internal conditions. The sweat (system) rests on your skin
(surroundings). Your body has heated up and is warmer than the liquid sweat that now rests on it. The warm skin
transfers its thermal energy INTO the sweat in an endothermic reaction causing the sweat to evaporate.
- If an exothermic reaction takes place in water, heat is absorbed from the water and the temperature of the
water increases.
IN AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION, HEAT WILL BE RELEASED INTO THE SYSTEM. THIS IS WHAT WILL CAUSE THE
INCREASE IN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER. (WATER IS ABSORBED DURING AN ENDOTHERMIC REACTION)
COMBUSTION REACTIONS OCCUR WHEN THINGS BURN. BURNING RELEASES HEAT INTO THE SURROUNDING
AREA WHICH WOULD BE AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION.
9. Draw a glass of water with an ice cube floating at the top of the water. Label the system and its surroundings (is
the entire glass of water with the ice cube the system, or just the ice cube?). Describe what’s happening to the
energy in the water and the ice cube. Draw an arrow in the direction of the transfer of heat between the system
and its surroundings. Is this an endothermic or exothermic process?