Endothermic - GCSE Chemistry Definition

In GCSE Chemistry, "endothermic" refers to a type of chemical reaction or process that absorbs energy from its surroundings, typically in the form of heat. This means that during an endothermic reaction, the temperature of the surroundings decreases because energy is taken in by the reaction. A common example of an endothermic process is when certain salts dissolve in water. Potassium chloride is one such salt — as it dissolves, it absorbs heat from the surroundings, causing the solution to feel colder. Understanding endothermic reactions is important because it helps explain how energy changes during chemical reactions and how this affects the surrounding environment.