A student writes, “A reaction is endothermic because the temperature went up. The reaction feels cold.” Why is this student incorrect?
This student is incorrect because they are confusing the concepts of temperature and heat. The fact that the temperature increases does not imply that the reaction is endothermic.
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, while heat is a form of energy transfer. In an endothermic reaction, energy is absorbed from the surroundings, resulting in a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings. However, this does not mean that the reaction "feels cold".
The perception of coldness or warmth is a subjective feeling based on the energy transfer between our body and the surroundings. When energy is transferred from our skin to the reactants in an endothermic reaction, it can give the sensation of feeling cold. However, this feeling does not necessarily indicate that the reaction itself is cold.