What's Happening to the Water in the Sauna?
Is what's happening to the water an endothermic or exothermic process?
George goes into the sauna at the local gym after his workout. He takes a bottle that has 350 g of water in it that was originally at 21°C. The sauna is a nice and comfortable 65°C. The water is in the sauna long enough to reach the same temperature as the surrounding air. Choose the correct answer and explain your reasoning:
a) Endothermic because the water absorbs heat from the surroundings.
b) Exothermic because the water releases heat to the surroundings.
c) Endothermic because the water releases heat to the surroundings.
d) Exothermic because the water absorbs heat from the surroundings.
Final answer:
The water in the bottle absorbs heat from the sauna to reach the same temperature, making it an endothermic process.
Explanation: When George takes a bottle of water at 21°C into a sauna at 65°C, the water in the bottle will absorb heat from its surroundings until it reaches thermal equilibrium with the sauna's air temperature. This process is endothermic because it involves the absorption of heat from the surroundings, similar to how water needs heat to boil on a stove. An exothermic process, in contrast, releases heat into the surroundings as in the burning of a log in a campfire. Therefore, the correct answer is: a) Endothermic because the water absorbs heat from the surroundings.