In our daily lives, telling the difference between endothermic and exothermic processes is easier than you might think!

Exothermic Reactions:

• These reactions give off energy, mostly as heat.
• Examples:
  1. Burning Fuels: When you light a candle, it produces heat and light.
  2. Breathing: Our bodies release energy from the food we eat.

Endothermic Reactions:

• These reactions take in energy from their surroundings, which makes things cooler.
• Examples:
  1. Photosynthesis: Plants soak up sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar.
  2. Dissolving Salt in Water: When salt is added to water, the mixture feels cooler because the salt absorbs heat.

To help you picture these processes: When you use an ice pack, it feels cold (that’s endothermic). On the other hand, when you sit by a fire, it warms you up (that’s exothermic).
Understanding these reactions is important for learning about energy changes in chemistry!