What happens to the temperature during an exothermic reaction?

In an exothermic reaction, the system releases heat to its surroundings, which results in an increase in the temperature of the surroundings. This heat release occurs because the total energy of the products is lower than that of the reactants, causing the excess energy to be emitted as heat during the reaction process. As a consequence, the temperature of the surrounding environment rises as it absorbs this released heat.

This concept is rooted in the principles of thermodynamics, where energy conservation dictates that any energy lost by the system must be accounted for in the environment. The increase in temperature is a direct indicator of the energy being released, making this phenomenon characteristic of exothermic reactions. Hence, the statement that the temperature increases as heat is released accurately describes this type of reaction.