Thread:Glflegolas/@comment-25133206-20151023232509/@comment-4750818-20151024111735

If the temperature of the solution decreases when you dissolve the salt, then the process you're describing is endothermic. The words "endothermic" and "exothermic" correspond to the change in temperature of the surroundings.

In thermochemistry, a positive value for ΔH means that the free energy of the products is higher than that of the reactants. Of course, energy has to come from somewhere, so the reaction requires the input of energy (often heat, but sometimes electricity or light) to proceed. A negative value for ΔH means that the free energy of the products is less than that of the reactants, and therefore the reaction releases some form of energy -- most often heat.

Glflegolas (admin) Send a Messenger  11:17, October 24, 2015 (UTC)