What typically happens to the surroundings during an exothermic reaction?

In an exothermic reaction, the system releases energy in the form of heat to the surroundings, resulting in a decrease in the system's internal energy. Consequently, this transfer of heat causes the surroundings to lose heat energy. As a result, the temperature of the surroundings decreases, which aligns with the response describing them as cooling down.

This phenomenon is observed in many chemical processes, such as combustion reactions, where heat is generated and can be felt as warmth in the surrounding area. However, in exothermic reactions, the immediate effect is a decrease in the thermal energy of the surroundings, indicating that they lose heat. This characteristic of exothermic reactions is crucial for understanding energetic changes in chemical reactions and processes.