During the experimental measurement of heat of reaction, is heat lost to the surroundings or gained from the surroundings?

Question

chemistry question

Answer 1

Did the temperature of the reaction mixture increase or decrease?

If the experimental temperature increased, heat was lost to the surrounding.

If the experimental temperature decreased, heat was gained from the surroundings.

 

The surroundings is everything except the "system" which is the actual reaction, per se.  So, the liquid, the beaker, the test tube, etc. are all considered as "surroundings".