No, cooling water is not endothermic; it is an exothermic process.
When water cools down, it releases heat energy into its surroundings. An exothermic process is defined as a process that releases heat. Conversely, an endothermic process absorbs heat from the surroundings. Since cooling water releases heat, it fits the definition of an exothermic reaction.
Here's a breakdown:
- Exothermic Process: Releases heat, causing the surroundings to become warmer. Cooling water exemplifies this.
- Endothermic Process: Absorbs heat, causing the surroundings to become cooler. Melting ice is an example of this.
Think of it this way:
- Hot water possesses more thermal energy.
- To cool, it needs to lose this extra energy.
- This energy is released into the environment as heat.
Therefore, cooling water is fundamentally an exothermic process.
