Cooking an egg is one type of process, while the formation of snow is another. Three to five sentences, identify each as exothermic or endothermic and explain how you know.
Cooking an egg is an endothermic process. This is because energy is absorbed from the surroundings in order to cook the egg. When heat is applied to the egg, it absorbs the heat from the stove or pan, causing the proteins and water in the egg to denature and solidify into a cooked state.
The formation of snow is an exothermic process. This is because energy is released to the surroundings during the formation of snow. When the atmospheric temperature drops below freezing point, water vapor in the air undergoes deposition and changes directly into solid ice crystals, releasing latent heat in the process. This release of heat is what makes the surrounding air feel even colder during snowfall.
To determine if a process is exothermic or endothermic, we need to understand the energy exchange involved. Cooking an egg is an endothermic process. When you apply heat to the egg, the heat is absorbed by the egg, causing the proteins and water inside the egg to denature and coagulate. This absorption of heat energy from the surroundings is characteristic of an endothermic process.
On the other hand, the formation of snow is an exothermic process. During snow formation, water vapor condenses and freezes into ice crystals. This phase transition releases heat energy into the surrounding environment in the form of latent heat. When the water vapor molecules lose energy and bond together to form ice, they release this energy, making it an exothermic process.
In summary, cooking an egg is endothermic because it absorbs heat from the surroundings, while the formation of snow is exothermic because it releases heat into the surroundings during the phase transition.
Cooking an egg is an exothermic process because heat is transferred from the stove or heat source to the egg, causing it to cook and release energy in the form of heat. This is evident as the egg turns from a liquid to a solid state due to the heat energy absorbed by the egg.
On the other hand, the formation of snow is an endothermic process. When water vapor in the air condenses into snow, it requires energy to be absorbed from the surroundings. This is because the process of condensation releases energy and cools the surrounding air, resulting in the formation of snowflakes. The energy required for this phase transition is taken from the surrounding environment, making it an endothermic process.