[07.27.2025] Content error, AnKing-MCAT/AnKingMed, ID 3668134

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Tbh, I think the image is fine as-is.

For example, deposition is an exothermic process (releasing energy to the environment).

The value in the image is +2592 which is labeled as “energy released to the environment.” That number is correct and should be positive, not negative.

If we take the ‘corrected’ version of the image, with the -2592 kJ7Kg value, you’re releasing negative energy to the environment which would not be an exothermic process.

I was being kind of lazy by not explaining it, but I’ll write my logic (I also think the linked YouTube video does a great job explaining this).

The system in this case, as is in the video, is considered just the water (whether it is in the form of ice, or liquid water, or water vapor (gas)).

In the video, it is explained clearly that when heat/energy/heat energy is transferred into a system from the surroundings, that is considered an endothermic process. The sign in that case should be positive. Heat energy enters the system.

I wouldn’t think of energy as being “negative energy” or “positive energy”, that would lead to a lot of confusion. Positive and negative signs are there as a form of convention. The purpose of the signs are to indicate the direction of energy transfer (into a system from the surroundings vs. into the surroundings from the system).

“Releasing negative energy” would create a kind of strange, confusing double-negative that I think should be avoided. Adding “to the environment” would add to that confusion. I get that the phrases “heat energy taken from the environment” and “heat energy released to environment” are there in the image, but I think those are understood as separate from the values, as just another way of restating the direction in which heat energy is moving.

Finally, the reason that this image made me so confused in the first place is that it contradicts my general understanding of endo- and exo- thermic processes in thermodynamics. In general, exothermic processes are negative, and endothermic processes are positive. That is just due to convention of what has been decided positive and negative to indicate. Again, positive/negative just indicates the direction of the movement of heat energy.

So, for example, if you research or look up the heat of sublimation just as an example (you could look up the delta H for any of the other processes and will find the same pattern), every single source you find will tell you that the heat/enthalpy of sublimation is positive. And for all of the other processes that their signs are the opposite of what is shown in the image (wikipedia as one example: Enthalpy of sublimation - Wikipedia).

So, although you could have a kind of interpretation about negative energy being released that makes the original image technically right, it would still be a confusing/misleading way to show a concept. It definitely made me question my understanding of it. Anyways, that is my full understanding for why I thought it needed to be changed.

Separately, I’m very new to this, so how do I see if a change suggestion was accepted or not? It doesn’t show anything here on this page from what I can tell.

Nevermind my last question, just realized that this is still considered an open discussion, so it hasn’t been resolved yet. Thank you in advance for help and considering the suggestion (and reading my long explanation lol). Seriously thank you!!!

Yeah, still open. :slight_smile:

Typically takes a bit for all the maintainers to circle around and have time to take a look and mull it over

As long as it’s open there’s no determination made, just review and ideally an eventual consensus. Once a determination is made you should get a notification that either says it’s approved, or rejected, and if rejected it typically includes a rationale

Sometimes takes a few days, depending on everyone’s schedules. There’s no set timeline, and sometimes takes a while and some discussion to hash things out. But, you should get a notification anytime there’s movement on it one way or the other

And thank you for the suggestion/s. Ultimately it’s communal contributions and good-faith efforts that keep the wheels turning, and are what make the deck better over time. We’ve all benefitted from it, one way or the other, and keeping it going is the ideal. :mending_heart:

p.s. I guess, now that I think about it, this might be helpful: AnKing MCAT Deck Submission Guidelines

Most of it is pretty straightforward, but it’s basically the how’s and why’s of submitting changes. What works, what doesn’t, what helps (or doesn’t), formatting stuff, etc.

Basically all of the maintainers are volunteers and also students, either preparing for the MCAT, or in school, or whatever, and so it’s super helpful to have A) good suggestions and B) thoughtful and well-formatted suggestions so that maintainers can assess them on their own merits and don’t have to chase down facts, try to figure out what someone is trying to say, or have to interpret hieroglyphics, etc. Ultimately makes life easier on the few maintainers we have and, ideally, hopefully makes for better suggestions and ultimately a better deck. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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Also, I just was reading through the guide for making suggestions and I can see Wikipedia is not allowed to be used as a source. A better example would actually be in the linked YouTube video itself! At 6:14, you can see melting and boiling (evaporation) are positive, and condensation and freezing are negative. These signs follow the convention of the corrected image and are the opposite of the original.

Sorry for using wikipedia at first as a source, I am new to this as I said and I appreciate your patience.