Heat released from an exothermic reaction can travel in one of three ways: conduction, convection, or radiation. In conduction, energy is released from the reaction in the form of heat exciting nearby particles. These particles then excite neighboring particles. Eventually, the surroundings exist at a higher energy level. In convection, nearby particles are excited. These particles then travel through the surroundings, bringing the higher level of heat with them. In radiation, nearby particles absorb the released heat. These particles then emit the heat as blackbody emitters transmitting the heat on to other particles. Radiation is the only type of heat transfer that does not require the bodies to be in contact with each other. For example, the heat that the Earth receives from the sun travels by radiation.
