What term describes a reaction where heat is absorbed and the bonds in the reactants are stronger than those in the products?

The term that best describes a reaction where heat is absorbed is "endothermic." In an endothermic reaction, the system takes in energy, usually from heat, which leads to a decrease in the surrounding temperature. The key aspect of an endothermic reaction is that the energy required to break the bonds in the reactants is greater than the energy released when new bonds are formed in the products. This results in the overall absorption of heat.

In the described scenario, since the bonds in the reactants are stronger than those in the products, it indicates that the process requires an input of energy (heat) to facilitate the breaking of those stronger bonds. As a result, the reaction pulls heat from the surroundings into the system, further reinforcing its classification as endothermic.

Understanding the differences between terms like exothermic and endothermic is crucial; an exothermic reaction releases heat and typically has products with stronger bonds than those in the reactants. Isothermal refers to processes that occur at a constant temperature, while thermodynamic is a broader term that encompasses the principles governing energy transformations and states.