Can you explain the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions? I am very confused.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Combing baking soda and vinegar drops the temperature. But the web says that's endothermic reaction. I don't understand how a reaction that absorbs heat can make the temperature drop

cuanchi · Answer

Yes dear Koala face:
You have to understand the concept of system and the surroundings in thermodynamics.

if you have a combustion reaction as the one in your fireplace now in the winter that is a EXOTHERMIC reaction and the temperature is going to increase and you will feel warm and cozy. The reaction is loosing energy but the surroundings are increasing the temperature.

Now if you put a icecube in your hand you will feel your hand getting cold because the ice is taking the energy from your hand, the ice is getting warmer, your hand is getting cold. This is a ENDOTHERMIC reaction. The system is the ice and the surrounding is your hand.

You have to see that in thermodynamics always you have your system and the surroundings and the energy is going from one to the other and if one is loosing energy and getting cold, the other is gaining the same amount of energy and getting warmer.