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Exothermic and Endothermic Processes

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

An exothermic process releases heat from the system into its surroundings; an endothermic process absorbs heat into the system.

Show

A cold pack feels cold because dissolving salt inside it absorbs heat from your hand, an endothermic process for the pack.

Watch for

Students often label a process exothermic or endothermic from its own temperature change, not from the direction heat crosses the boundary.