A substance is dissolved in water, and the temperature of the surroundings decreases. Is this process exothermic or endothermic? Explain your reasoning in 3-5 sentences. (4 points)

This process is endothermic. When a substance is dissolved in water, energy is required to break the intermolecular forces and allow the solute particles to mix with the solvent. In this case, the energy is absorbed from the surroundings, which causes a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings. Therefore, the process of dissolving the substance in water is endothermic as it requires the input of energy.

This process is endothermic. When a substance is dissolved in water, energy is required to break the bonds between the particles of the substance. This energy is absorbed from the surroundings, causing the temperature of the surroundings to decrease. Since heat is being absorbed from the surroundings, it indicates that the process is endothermic. It is important to note that endothermic processes generally have a positive enthalpy change.