Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

During an exothermic reaction, energy is released into the environment. This phenomenon occurs when the total energy of the products is lower than that of the reactants, meaning that energy is given off, typically in the form of heat or light. This release of energy often results in a temperature increase in the surrounding area, which can be observed in various chemical reactions, such as combustion.

In contrast, an endothermic reaction would involve energy being absorbed from the surroundings, resulting in a decrease in the temperature of the environment. The concept of energy remaining constant does not apply to these reactions, as energy transformation is a key characteristic of chemical reactions. Additionally, while catalysts are substances that speed up a reaction, they do not change the energy involved; therefore, the notion of energy becoming a catalyst is not applicable in this context.