Science Olympiad Thermodynamics Practice Test 2026 – All-In-One Study Guide to Master Your Competition!

In an endothermic process, the system absorbs energy from its surroundings. This typically occurs when a chemical reaction or physical change requires energy input to proceed, such as when ice melts into water or when ammonium nitrate dissolves in water.

The absorption of energy often leads to a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings, as the energy transfer is directed into the system. This energy is usually in the form of heat, which causes the internal energy of the system to increase, facilitating the transformation or phase change.

Understanding this concept is crucial as it relates to the laws of thermodynamics, particularly the first law, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In this context, during an endothermic process, the energy input directly correlates to changes in temperature, phase, or chemical state within the system.