Final answer:
Exothermic and endothermic reactions differ in terms of energy transfer, with exothermic reactions releasing energy to the surroundings and endothermic reactions absorbing energy from the surroundings.
Step-by-step explanation:
An exothermic chemical reaction:
In an exothermic chemical reaction, energy is released from the system into the surroundings. This release of energy often takes the form of heat and causes the surroundings to become warmer. The enthalpy change (ΔH) for an exothermic reaction is negative, indicating that energy is being lost.
An endothermic chemical reaction:
In contrast, an endothermic chemical reaction absorbs energy from the surroundings into the system. This absorption of energy often results in a decrease in temperature of the surroundings. The enthalpy change for an endothermic reaction is positive, indicating that energy is being gained.
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