An endothermic reaction involves the absorption of energy.
An endothermic reaction is a nuclear reaction that involves the absorption of energy. Nuclear reactions , meanwhile, are those processes that lead to the combination or modification of atomic nuclei: when these nuclei combine or fragment, the release or absorption of particles and energy occurs.
If the nuclear reaction releases energy in the form of heat or light, the process is called an exothermic reaction . In the opposite case, we speak of an endothermic reaction.
Endothermic reactions, therefore, are all chemical reactions in which energy is absorbed . It should be noted that, as a result of the reaction, the energy of the product is higher than the energy of the reactants.
Characteristics of an endothermic reaction
The endothermic reaction involves an increase in enthalpy . This concept refers to a magnitude whose variation reveals the level of energy that a thermodynamic system exchanges with the environment .
The ultraviolet rays that come from the sun, for example, generate an endothermic reaction in the upper layers of the atmosphere that results in the generation of ozone . Another endothermic reaction takes place when iron reacts with sulfur and iron sulfide is produced.
In endothermic reactions, in short, the elements absorb energy from the system so that the nuclear reaction can take place. This means that, by taking thermal energy (heat), the reaction in question is produced or accelerated.
Just the opposite occurs with exothermic reactions that, during their development, release energy (such as when a person lights a campfire and produces fire, releasing heat).
An endothermic reaction occurs in photosynthesis.
Various examples
We already mentioned that an example of an endothermic reaction is the production of ozone . However, we cannot ignore that, in the same way, so is the process of so-called photosynthesis . What happens in this is that plants take the energy given off by the sun and then transform water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar.
Another example is the obtaining of chromium oxide from ammonium dichromate. In the same way, the dissolution of ammonium nitrate in water , the generation of hydrogen , the cooling of water and even the melting of ice are also established as endothermic reactions.
Other interesting data about endothermic reactions
It is worth knowing other interesting facts about endothermic reactions:
- It should not be overlooked either that an endothermic reaction between two solid compounds is what occurs, for example, when the mixture of ammonium nitrate and barium hydroxide is undertaken.
- Different types of energy can be used in these endothermic reactions, although the most common is usually the calorific type. However, you can also proceed to use chemistry, light or electricity. Everything will depend on the results that are expected to be obtained and, above all, on the elements with which we are going to work.