Editing Exothermic process (section)

{{short description|Thermodynamic process that releases energy to its surroundings}}
{{Distinguish|Ectothermic}}
[[File:Explosion1.JPG|thumb|right|300px|[[Explosion]]s are some of the most violent exothermic reactions.]]

In [[thermodynamics]], an '''exothermic process''' ({{etymology|grc|''{{Wikt-lang|grc|έξω}}'' ({{grc-transl|έξω}})|outward||''{{Wikt-lang|grc|θερμικός}}'' ({{grc-transl|θερμικός}})|thermal}})<ref>[http://www.greek-language.gr/greekLang/modern_greek/tools/lexica/search.html?lq=%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82&dq= "Gate for the Greek language" on-line dictionary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205235500/http://www.greek-language.gr/greekLang/modern_greek/tools/lexica/search.html?lq=%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82&dq= |date=2017-12-05 }}. greek-language.gr</ref> is a [[thermodynamic process]] or [[chemical reaction|reaction]] that releases [[energy]] from the system to its [[environment (systems)|surroundings]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-06-27 |title=17.3: Exothermic and Endothermic Processes |url=https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/17%3A_Thermochemistry/17.03%3A_Exothermic_and_Endothermic_Processes |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Chemistry LibreTexts |language=en}}</ref> usually in the form of [[heat]], but also in a form of [[light]] (e.g. a spark, flame, or flash), [[electricity]] (e.g. a battery), or [[sound]] (e.g. explosion heard when burning hydrogen). The term ''exothermic'' was first coined by 19th-century French chemist [[Marcellin Berthelot]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutton |first=Mike |date=2007-03-01 |title=Chemistry for the common good |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/chemistry-for-the-common-good/3004535.article |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Chemistry World |language=en}}</ref>

The opposite of an exothermic process is an [[endothermic]] process, one that absorbs energy, usually in the form of heat.<ref name=":0" />  The concept is frequently applied in the [[Outline of physical science|physical sciences]] to [[chemical reaction]]s where chemical [[bond energy]] is converted to [[thermal energy]] (heat).