Meaning & use
endothermic reaction in chemistry
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Meaning
phrasecountabletechnicalchemistry
A chemical change that takes in heat from its surroundings.
Grammar: Countable: an endothermic reaction, endothermic reactions. The opposite is an exothermic reaction.
Patterns
- an endothermic reaction takes in heat
- endothermic reaction in chemistry
- endothermic reaction between substances
In chemistry, an endothermic reaction absorbs heat, so the mixture often feels cold.
The teacher showed an endothermic reaction in chemistry class using two white powders.
Photosynthesis is a well-known endothermic reaction because it takes in light energy.
Common combinations
- endothermic reaction absorbs heat
- An endothermic reaction absorbs heat from the water around it.
- highly endothermic
- The decomposition of limestone is highly endothermic.
- endothermic process
- Melting ice is an endothermic process.
- exothermic reaction
- Burning wood is an exothermic reaction that gives out heat.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heat-absorbing reaction
- A plain-language description rather than a technical term, useful for explaining the idea to beginners.
Opposites
Word family
- endothermic adjective
- Describing a process or reaction that takes in heat.
- exothermic adjective
- Describing a process or reaction that releases heat.
Commonly confused: endothermic reaction in chemistry or exothermic?
endothermic reaction in chemistry vs exothermic
Exothermic means heat is given out, while endothermic means heat is taken in. Remember 'exo' as 'exit' and 'endo' as 'enter'.
Practice
Which statement about an endothermic reaction is correct?
Choose one answer.
An endothermic reaction absorbs heat, which is why the surroundings may cool down. Option A describes an exothermic reaction, and options C and D are not part of the definition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “endothermic reaction in chemistry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.