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Exothermic: meaning, definitions and examples

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exothermic

 

[ ˌɛksoʊˈθɜːrmɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

chemical reactions

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat or light. During such a reaction, the total energy of the products is lower than that of the reactants, indicating that energy has been released to the surroundings. These reactions are often characterized by an increase in temperature in the surrounding environment.

Synonyms

energy-releasing, heat-releasing

Examples of usage

  • The combustion of fuels is an exothermic process.
  • During photosynthesis, plants undergo an exothermic reaction.
  • The heat generated from the rusting of iron is an example of an exothermic reaction.

Translations

Translations of the word "exothermic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exotérmico

🇮🇳 उष्मागतिक

🇩🇪 exotherm

🇮🇩 eksotermik

🇺🇦 екзотермічний

🇵🇱 egzotermiczny

🇯🇵 発熱反応の

🇫🇷 exothermique

🇪🇸 exotérmico

🇹🇷 ekzotermik

🇰🇷 발열성의

🇸🇦 طارد للحرارة

🇨🇿 exotermní

🇸🇰 exotermický

🇨🇳 放热的

🇸🇮 ekzotermičen

🇮🇸 exothermic

🇰🇿 экзотермиялық

🇬🇪 ექსოთერმული

🇦🇿 ekzotermik

🇲🇽 exotérmico

Etymology

The term 'exothermic' comes from the combination of the Greek prefix 'exo-' meaning 'outside' or 'external', and 'thermic' from the Greek word 'thermē', meaning 'heat'. The concept emerged in the context of chemical reactions during the development of thermodynamics in the 19th century. As scientists began to study the energy changes involved in chemical reactions, they recognized the importance of distinguishing between reactions that absorbed heat (endothermic) and those that released heat (exothermic). The designation has been crucial to fields such as chemistry, physics, and biochemistry, as it helps in understanding the energy flow in various processes.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,785, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.