1) A researcher can determine that an exothermic reaction has occurred in a flask if the flask feels warm.
2) Heat is being absorbed; the reaction is endothermic
In exothermic reactions, heat is liberated to the surrounding from the reaction vessels while for endothermic reactions, heat is absorbed from the surrounding.
Thus, a reaction can be determined to be exothermic just by feeling warmness from the reaction vessel.
More on exothermic and endothermic reactions can be found here: https://brainly.com/question/4345448?referrer=searchResults