What is a Chemical Reaction and its Properties?

Introduction to Chemical Reaction:

The law of nature is change. Changes are crucial for life. The majority of the objects in our environment change often. Each change has a root reason. Changes in a substance’s form, size, location, color, or internal structure can result from these sources. A high-interest activity is observing how substances change and discovering the science behind the change. But as a result of chemical changes, the substances transform into new things. All around us, chemical reactions are taking place.

Look at the pictures; they show various chemical reactions surrounding us.

So, by this, we can say chemical reactions occur everywhere in the world around you, not just in a chemistry lab.

Explanation:

Now, we are going to learn “What are chemical reactions?

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances, the reactants, are converted to one or more different substances, the products.

Candle-burning Experiment:

How is a Candle Flame Affected after Placing a Jar over the Candle?

Fire is a chemical reaction; it creates light and heat from oxygen and fuel. When we light a candle, it needs oxygen from the air to continue burning. If we limit the amount of air available with the help of a glass jar, the candle’s flame eventually burns out once it uses up all the oxygen.

Why Does This Happen?

• Fire needs oxygen to withstand itself.
• The glass stops the fire from getting any more oxygen.
• Once the fire in the glass has consumed all the oxygen inside the glass, the fire goes out.

Figure: Burning of candle 

Similarly, we can say the burning of paper is also a chemical change.

What Type of Chemical Changes Do You See Around You?

We used to see many chemical reactions in our daily life like rusting of iron, baking cake, washing with soaps and detergent, digestion of food, etc.

So, what is the exact meaning of a chemical reaction?

“A chemical reaction is a process in which some substances change into different substances.”

The atoms and molecules that interact with each other are called reactants.

The atoms and molecules produced by the reaction are called products.

Figure: Chemical reaction

The chemical Reactions:

Create new substances: The substances we end up with are different from the ones we started with.

Are irreversible: At the end of the reactions, we cannot get back the reactant we started with.

Signs of Chemical Reactions:

• We can see huge flames or tiny sparks.
• We can notice a sweet smell or a foul stink.
• We can notice a sweet smell or a foul stink.
• We can hear a loud bang or gentle fizzing.

Not all changes are chemical: Reversible changes

A change that can be undone or returned to its original state is referred to as a reversible change. Examples include stretching a rubber band, inflating a balloon, freezing water to turn it into ice, heating the wax to turn it into liquid, etc.

Summary

• Chemical reactions occur everywhere in the world around you, not just in a chemistry lab.
• The atoms and molecules that interact with each other are called reactants.
• The atoms and molecules produced by the reaction are called products.
• The chemical reactions create new substances.
• The chemical reactions are irreversible.
• Signs of chemical reactions:
• huge flames or tiny sparks.
• sweet smell or a foul stink.
• chemical getting hotter or colder.
• a loud bang or gentle fizzing sound.
• Not all changes are chemical: Reversible changes
• A change that can be undone or reversed is called a reversible change.