9/14/2018 https://www.thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179?

print

Endothermic Reaction Examples

List of Chemical Reactions that Absorb Heat

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Updated April 17, 2018

An endothermic reaction is any chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its environment. The
absorbed energy provides the activation energy for the reaction to occur. A hallmark of this type
of reaction is that it feels cold. Here's a list of examples of endothermic reactions. You can use
these when asked to cite an example or to get ideas to set up a demonstration of an
endothermic reaction or process.

Endothermic Chemical Reactions

A good examples of an endothermic reaction includes dissolving a salt. It doesn't have to be

table salt, nor does the solvent need to be water.

the reaction of barium hydroxide octahydrate crystals with dry ammonium chloride
dissolving ammonium chloride in water
the reaction of thionyl chloride (SOCl2) with cobalt(II) sulfate heptahydrate

mixing water and ammonium nitrate

mixing water with potassium chloride
reacting ethanoic acid with sodium carbonate
photosynthesis (chlorophyll is used to react carbon dioxide plus water plus energy to
make glucose and oxygen)

Endothermic Processes

These examples could be written as chemical reactions, but are more generally considered to be
endothermic or heat-absorbing processes:

melting ice cubes

https://www.thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179?print 1/2
9/14/2018 https://www.thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179?print

melting solid salts

evaporating liquid water

converting frost to water vapor (melting, boiling, and evaporation, in general, are
endothermic processes)
making an anhydrous salt from a hydrate
forming a cation from an atom in the gas phase
splitting a gas molecule
separating ion pairs
cooking an egg
baking bread

Cold Projects You Can Try

Some chemistry projects involve endothermic reactions:

Ice Cream and Freezing Point Depression

Icy Endothermic Reaction

Make a Cold Pack from Hot Ice

https://www.thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179?print 2/2