Exothermic reaction

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An exothermic thermite reaction using iron(III) oxide. The sparks flying outwards are globules of molten iron
trailing smoke in their wake.

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy by light or heat. It is the
opposite of an endothermic reaction.[1]
Expressed in a chemical equation: reactants products + energy

Contents
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1 Overview
2 Examples of exothermic reactions
3 Key points
4 Measurement
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Overview[edit]
An exothermic reaction is a chemical or physical reaction that releases heat. It gives out energy to its
surroundings. The energy needed for the reaction to occur is less than the total energy released.[2]
When using a calorimeter, the change in heat of the calorimeter is equal to the opposite of the
change in heat of the system. This means that when the medium in which the reaction is taking
place gains heat, the reaction is exothermic.
The absolute amount of energy in a chemical system is extremely difficult to measure or calculate.
The enthalpy change, H, of a chemical reaction is much easier to measure and calculate. A bomb
calorimeter is very suitable for measuring the energy change, H, of a combustion reaction.
Measured and calculated H values are related to bond energies by:
H = energy used in bond breaking reactions energy released in bond making products

An energy profile of an exothermic reaction

by definition the enthalpy change has a negative value:

H < 0
in an exothermic reaction, gives a negative value for H, since a larger value (the energy
released in the reaction) is subtracted from a smaller value (the energy used for the
reaction). For example, when hydrogen burns:
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) 2H2O (g)
H = 483.6 kJ/mol of O2 [3]
The most commonly available hand warmers make use of the oxidation of iron to
achieve an exothermic reaction:
4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) 2Fe2O3(s).

endothermic reaction

The intended sense is that of a reaction that depends on taking in heat if it is to proceed. The
opposite of an endothermic process is an exothermic process, one that releases, "gives out" energy
in the form of heat. Thus in each term (endothermic & exothermic) the prefix refers to where heat
goes as the reaction occurs.

The concept is frequently applied in physical sciences to, for example, chemical reactions,
where thermal energy (heat) is converted to chemical bond energy.

Endothermic (and exothermic) analysis only accounts for the enthalpy (H) change of a reaction.