heat given off by rxn = - heat absorbed by solution

[Michael Du 1E]

For the equation (heat given off by rxn = -heat absorbed by solution), why would the heat that is absorbed by the solution be a negative number? Wouldn't the solution be a positive q if it absorbed the heat? thank you

[Vicki Liu 2L]

I believe it is not important which side the negative sign is on, as long as you know the heat given off and absorbed are equal in magnitude but opposite signs.

[Kayli Choy 2F]

I think the correct way to think about it is
-(heat given off by the system reaction) = (heat absorbed by the surroundings)
Because the system is losing heat, there is a negative in front of it, and because the surroundings are gaining heat, that value is positive.

[Nick Fiorentino 1E]

Yeah, whenever a system loses energy in whatever form, that value will be negative. But, that energy must go somewhere else so the energy will be absorbed by another system, so it will be positive for that system

[Sally Qiu 2E]

the heat given off by the rxn would be absorbed by the surroundings. i'm not sure if you need to know specifically which side the negative is on, as long as one is negative?

[605395381]

I don't think it is important to memorize that equation. As long as you understand that losing heat is neg and absorbing is pos. and the amount of energy lost/gain by the system is equal to the amount gain/lost by the surrounding.

[WYacob_2C]

I believe the correct statement is: -(heat given off by system)=(heat gained by surroundings). This statement is true if the system is isolated because the heat given off my a system must be transferred to the surroundings.