What is an endothermic reaction?

An endothermic reaction is characterized by the absorption of heat from its surroundings. This process results in a decrease in the temperature of the surrounding environment as energy is drawn in to drive the reaction. A common example of an endothermic reaction is the dissolution of ammonium nitrate in water, where the solution feels cold to the touch because heat is taken from the surroundings to provide the energy needed for the reaction to occur.

In contrast, reactions that release heat, do not involve heat, or occur spontaneously at room temperature correspond to other types of thermodynamic behavior, which are not representative of endothermic processes. Understanding the nature of endothermic reactions is crucial in various applications, such as in cooling packs or certain chemical reactions used in laboratory experiments.