What are some examples of exothermic and endothermic processes?

I a student looking for common and not so common occurances of endothermic and exothermic processes. I am trying to achieve an understanding of this occurances to be able to recognize them myself. Thanks. Terry Holbrook

When trying to classify a process as exothermic or endothermic, watch how the temperature of the surroundings changes. An exothermic process releases heat, and causes the temperature of the immediate surroundings to rise. An endothermic process absorbs heat and cools the surroundings. Can you think of a way to test the classification of each of these processes?

Exothermic processes Endothermic processes

making ice cubes melting ice cubes

formation of snow in clouds conversion of frost to water vapor

condensation of rain from water vapor evaporation of water

a candle flame forming a cation from an atom in the gas phase

mixing sodium sulfite and bleach baking bread

rusting iron cooking an egg

burning sugar producing sugar by photosynthesis

forming ion pairs separating ion pairs

Combining atoms to make a molecule in the gas phase splitting a gas molecule apart

mixing water and strong acids mixing water and ammonium nitrate

mixing water with an anhydrous salt making an anhydrous salt from a hydrate

crystallizing liquid salts (as in sodium acetate in chemical handwarmers) melting solid salts

nuclear fission reaction of barium hydroxide octahydrate crystals with dry ammonium chloride

mixing water with calcium chloride reaction of thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) with cobalt(II) sulfate heptahydrate

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu

General Chemistry Online! What are some examples of exothermic and endothermic processes?

Copyright © 1997-2005 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.edu
Last Revised 07/31/07.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/thermo/faq/print-exothermic-endothermic-examples.shtml

Exothermic processes	Endothermic processes
making ice cubes	melting ice cubes
formation of snow in clouds	conversion of frost to water vapor
condensation of rain from water vapor	evaporation of water
a candle flame	forming a cation from an atom in the gas phase
mixing sodium sulfite and bleach	baking bread
rusting iron	cooking an egg
burning sugar	producing sugar by photosynthesis
forming ion pairs	separating ion pairs
Combining atoms to make a molecule in the gas phase	splitting a gas molecule apart
mixing water and strong acids	mixing water and ammonium nitrate
mixing water with an anhydrous salt	making an anhydrous salt from a hydrate
crystallizing liquid salts (as in sodium acetate in chemical handwarmers)	melting solid salts
nuclear fission	reaction of barium hydroxide octahydrate crystals with dry ammonium chloride
mixing water with calcium chloride	reaction of thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) with cobalt(II) sulfate heptahydrate