Which of the following best describes an endothermic reaction?

• A. It does not involve any heat exchange.
• B. It releases heat to the surroundings.
• C. It produces light instead of heat.
• D. It absorbs heat from the surroundings.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of an endothermic reaction: it is a chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings during the process.
2. Recall that in an endothermic reaction, the system gains energy, which means heat flows into the system, causing the surroundings to lose heat.
3. Contrast this with an exothermic reaction, where heat is released to the surroundings, making the surroundings warmer.
4. Recognize that a reaction that does not involve any heat exchange is called an adiabatic process, which is different from endothermic or exothermic reactions.
5. Note that producing light instead of heat is related to chemiluminescence or other phenomena, not specifically to the heat exchange characteristic of endothermic reactions.