Sign of enthalpy for exothermic and endothermic reactions

In *Cambridge Chemistry Coursebook* [1, p. 94] it’s written that



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> A rise in temperature is given a positive sign. So the value of $\Delta H$ is negative for an exothermic reaction. A fall in temperature is given a negative sign. So the value of $\Delta H$ is positive for an endothermic reaction.
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Why is the sign of enthalpy for exothermic reaction negative? Doesn’t exothermic reaction rise the temperature of surrounding?


Why is the sign of enthalpy for endothermic reaction positive? Doesn’t endothermic reaction take in energy and cool down the surrounding?


### Reference


1. Ryan, L.; Norris, R. *Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry Coursebook*, 2nd ed.; Cambridge International Examinations; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, **2014**. ISBN 978-1-107-63845-7.




Reason lies in definition of enthalpy of reaction. Enthalpy of reaction is heat exchanged between our system in which reaction happens and surroundings when reaction is carried at constant temperature and pressure. If reaction is exothermic, it releases heat and increases temperature of our system and so to keep it at the same temperature you need to give that heat to surroundings. If you do so, than since our system lost heat its enthalpy decreases (first law of thermodynamics) and because of that enthalpy of exothermic reaction is taken as negative. The opposite reasoning holds for endothermic reactions. You need to bring heat from surroundings into system to keep it at the same temperature and that heat increases enthalpy of the system.


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The reaction is said to be exothermic or endothermic according to the sign of the Enthalpy change. To obtain Enthalpy you subtract the enthalpy of formation for reactants from that of products. So, if the final enthalpy of the system is less than the initial one the result is negative and this difference manifests it self in the system as heat and temperature increases. The opposite is true for endothermic reactions.


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WT8Y8.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WT8Y8.png)


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