An ice pack is cracked, starting a reaction. The ice pack decreases in temperature as the reaction absorbs heat energy from the environment. The temperature of the surroundings decreases as heat is absorbed by the ice pack. Is this process exothermic or endothermic? Explain your reasoning in 3 sentences.

3 answers

The process described is endothermic. This is because the ice pack absorbs heat energy from the surroundings, leading to a decrease in temperature in the surrounding environment. In an endothermic reaction, energy is taken in, resulting in a cooling effect, which is exactly what is observed when the ice pack is activated.

another reason why it is Endothermic

Another reason it is endothermic is that the ice pack's chemical reaction requires energy input to proceed, which is typically derived from the thermal energy of the surroundings. During the reaction, the absorption of heat affects the kinetic energy of the surrounding molecules, causing a drop in temperature. This characteristic of consuming energy to drive the reaction further supports the classification of the process as endothermic.