What occurs during an exothermic reaction?

During an exothermic reaction, energy is released to the surroundings, typically in the form of heat. This release of energy results in an increase in the temperature of the surrounding environment. The process often involves the breaking of bonds in reactants, which requires an initial input of energy, followed by the formation of new bonds in the products that releases more energy than was absorbed. As a result, the overall energy change is negative, indicating that energy has exited the system and been transferred to the surroundings. This is a defining characteristic of exothermic reactions, making it key to understanding various chemical processes and their thermal effects.