Final answer:
Chemicals released by the endocrine system take more time to act compared to neurotransmitters, as they travel via the bloodstream and have long-lasting effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
In comparison to neurotransmitters, chemicals released by the endocrine system typically take more time to act.
While neurotransmitters act locally and rapidly by diffusing across the synaptic cleft and binding to receptors on the receiving cell, hormones released by the endocrine system are secreted into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. This means that hormones often take a longer path to reach their target cells, and hence require more time than the nearly instantaneous electrical signaling of the nervous system. Moreover, the effects of endocrine hormones are not only slower to take effect but also tend to have a more prolonged impact compared to the fast-acting neurotransmitters.