If a reaction is said to be exothermic, which of the following statements is a correct deduction from the information?

The correct deduction from the information that a reaction is exothermic is that the reaction vessel gets hotter as the reaction proceeds. This means that energy is released during the reaction, which increases the temperature of the surroundings. The other options are incorrect because: - ∆H for the reaction is negative in an exothermic reaction, not positive. This indicates that the reaction releases heat. - The activation energy of the reaction is not related to whether it is exothermic or endothermic. It is the minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to occur. - The rate of the reaction may or may not increase with time in an exothermic reaction. The rate depends on factors such as concentration, temperature, and catalysts.