What does 'endothermic' mean in the context of chemical reactions?

In the context of chemical reactions, 'endothermic' refers to a process that absorbs heat from the surroundings. This means that when an endothermic reaction occurs, it draws energy in the form of heat from the environment, which can lead to a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings. This characteristic is a key defining feature of endothermic reactions and contrasts with exothermic reactions, which release heat. For example, the dissolving of certain salts or the process of photosynthesis are commonly cited endothermic processes, as they require an input of thermal energy to proceed. Understanding this concept is important because it helps explain how energy flow works in chemical reactions, which is essential for courses focused on thermochemistry and reaction dynamics.