Explain the observed temperature change upon mixing ethanol and water.

Answer 1

Upon mixing ethanol and water, the observed temperature change can vary depending on the initial concentrations of these two substances. However, in general, the mixing of ethanol and water absorbs heat from the environment, resulting in a decrease in temperature. This is because the two substances have different molecular interactions and the energy required to break these interactions is higher than the energy released when they form new interactions with each other during mixing. In other words, the mixing process is endothermic, and the surrounding environment loses heat to compensate for the temperature drop. Overall, the magnitude of the temperature change upon mixing is dependent upon the initial conditions and the amount of energy released or absorbed during the process.