Which of the following best describes what happens during an endothermic reaction?

• A. Energy is converted from heat to light.
• B. The system releases heat to the surroundings.
• C. The temperature of the surroundings increases.
• D. The system 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 energy, usually in the form of heat, from its surroundings.
2. Recall that in an endothermic process, the system (the reacting substances) takes in heat, which means energy flows into the system rather than out of it.
3. Recognize that because the system absorbs heat, the surroundings lose heat, causing the temperature of the surroundings to decrease, not increase.
4. Eliminate options that describe heat being released or the surroundings heating up, as these describe exothermic reactions, the opposite of endothermic.
5. Conclude that the best description of an endothermic reaction is that the system absorbs heat from the surroundings.