exothermic

American  

[ek-soh-thur-mik] / ˌɛk soʊˈθɜr mɪk /

Or exothermal

adjective

Chemistry.

1. noting or pertaining to a chemical change that is accompanied by a liberation of heat (endothermic ).

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exothermic British  

/ ˌɛksəʊˈθɜːmɪk /

adjective

1. (of a chemical reaction or compound) occurring or formed with the evolution of heat Compare endothermic exoergic

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exothermic Scientific  

/ ĕk′sō-thûr′mĭk /

1. Relating to a chemical reaction that releases heat.

2. Compare endothermic

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Other Word Forms

• exothermally adverb
• exothermically adverb
• exothermicity noun

Etymology

Origin of exothermic

First recorded in 1880–85; exo- + thermic

Compare meaning

How does exothermic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• endothermic vs. exothermic

Example Sentences

Although low temperatures favor product formation for this exothermic process, the reaction rate at low temperatures is inefficiently slow.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

For exothermic processes, heat is viewed as a product of the reaction and so the opposite temperature dependence is observed.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

This condition describes an exothermic process that involves a decrease in system entropy.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Sulfur trioxide forms slowly when heating sulfur dioxide and oxygen together, and the reaction is exothermic:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

“The water creates an exothermic reaction—do you feel it warming up?”

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen