Which processes are exothermic?

I.     \({\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{COOH(aq)}} + {\text{NaOH(aq)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{COONa(aq)}} + {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O(l)}}\)

II.     \({\text{2C(s)}} + {{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{2CO(g)}}\)

III.     \({\text{C(s)}} + {{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}}\)

A.     I and II only

B.     I and III only

C.     II and III only

D.     I, II and III

D

Students found this question also to be difficult with 35.83% correct answers. C was by far the most common answer suggesting that students were aware of combustion being an exothermic process but not neutralization.