Chemical Thermodynamics and Some Kinetics 1. A process that absorbs energy from its surroundings is called endothermic. In an exothermic reaction the enthalpy of species increases.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Potential energy is the energy that a system possesses by virtue of its position or composition. There are two properties of a reacting system that determine whether a process at constant pressure and temperature can occur spontaneously. The two properties in Question 2 can be combined to give a single thermodynamic state property of a system which dictates whether a process can occur spontaneously. Every naturally occuring spontaneous process is attended with an increase in the entropy of the universe. Every naturally occuring spontaneous process in a system is attended with a decrease in free energy of the system.