In an endothermic reaction, the reactants have what in comparison to the products?

In an endothermic reaction, the system absorbs energy from its surroundings. This means that the energy of the reactants is lower than that of the products. As the reaction proceeds, energy is absorbed, often in the form of heat, which leads to the products having a higher total energy than the reactants. This is characteristic of endothermic processes, where energy absorption is essential for the reaction to occur.

Thus, the correct answer illustrates that in an endothermic reaction, the reactants possess less energy in comparison to the products. This concept highlights the role of energy transfer in chemical reactions and the nature of endothermic processes. The other options do not accurately reflect how energy changes in endothermic reactions, as they either imply equal energy levels or suggest that reactants have more or unchanged energy, which does not apply in this context.