Login or Sign Up
Menu
Ask a New Question

What would likely happen if you were to touch a metallic beaker in which an endothermic reaction were occurring?

The beaker would probably feel cooler than before the reaction started.

The beaker would probably feel warmer than before the reaction started.***

The beaker would feel the same as before the reaction started.

None of the above

To determine the correct answer, let's first establish what an endothermic reaction is. An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings, resulting in a decrease in temperature.

If you were to touch a metallic beaker in which an endothermic reaction is occurring, the beaker would likely feel cooler than before the reaction started. This is because the reaction is absorbing heat from its surroundings, including the beaker itself, causing the temperature of the beaker to decrease. Therefore, the correct answer is that the beaker would probably feel cooler than before the reaction started.

The beaker would probably feel warmer than before the reaction started.

To answer this question you need to understand the concept of system vs surroundings and how the terms endothermic and exothermic are related to this and applied to define heat flow associated with a reaction process. The system is always the object of interest (in chemistry, 'the rxn') and is the point of reference for the terms endothermic and exothermic. That is, an endothermic rxn (object of interest) would be removing energy from the surroundings in which you (the observer are a part). This means the reaction would be drawing heat from you (again, the observer) and you would detect a lower/cooler temperature effect. For exothermic reactions the opposite is true. You (the observer) would feel an increase in temperature as the reaction delivered energy into your hand. The ultimate essence of this concept is that the flow of heat is always toward (endothermic) or away from (exothermic) the reaction;i.e., the object of interest.