[supaumar]

Zn + CuSO₄ ===> ZnSO₄ + Cu

I understand that endothermic is taking in heat and that exothermic is releasing heat. Also, when I did this reaction in the laboratory, it seemed as if the copper (II) sulfate solution was 2 degrees cooler than the final temperature of the reaction. Does this mean it's exothermic or was the 2 degrees just chance?

[Arkcon]

Are you acquainted with enthalpy, and how to calculate it?  Failing that does your text book say the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.  And for that matter, what did you determine, experimentally, in your other recent thread. http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=32226.msg123272#msg123272

This is how we help on this board.  We give you hints, to try to lead you to the correct answer yourself.  You'll end up better off at exam time, and it's less like cheating.  We want to encourage people on this board to ask questions.  But sometimes, when someone just wants a textbook definition given to them, we can get a little snippy.  You're supposed to do your own reading, or Google searches, for definitions or simple yes/no/endo-/exo-thermic facts and trivia.

[supaumar]

I thought I would create a new thread as the questions were'ent completely related.

We did cover enthalpy in class, but how can I know how much energy is lost/gained when it's not given to me with the problem?

[Arkcon]

That's a constant for this reaction, you might be able to find a table in your textbook or online.  But you might not.  Also the textbook may casually mention exo-/endo- thermic, as a bit of trivia.