What is a Chemical Reaction?

Chemical reactions are all around us, from the metabolism of food in our body to how the light we get from the sun is the result of chemical reactions. Before beginning with chemical reactions, it is important to know about physical and chemical changes. A burning candle is the best example of physical and chemical change. Take a candle and light it. As time passes, we can observe that the candle changes to wax. If you cover the candle with a jar, it will extinguish. In the demonstration, burning of the candle is a chemical change while conversion of the candle to wax is a physical change. In a physical change, there is basically a change of state of the substance but in the case of a chemical change mostly a new substance is formed in which either energy is given off or absorbed. Thus, we can conclude that chemical changes are accompanied by certain physical changes.

Basic Concepts of Chemical Reactions

• A Chemical Reaction is a process that occurs when two or more molecules interact to form a new product(s).
• Compounds that interact to produce new compounds are called reactants whereas the newly formed compounds are called products.
• Chemical reactions play an integral role in different industries, customs and even in our daily life. They are continuously happening in our general surroundings; for example, rusting of iron, pottery, fermentation of wine and so on.
• In a chemical reaction, a chemical change must occur which is generally observed with physical changes like precipitation, heat production, colour change etc.
• A reaction can take place between two atoms or ions or molecules, and they form a new bond and no atom is destroyed or created but a new product is formed from reactants.
• The rate of reaction depends on and is affected by factors like pressure, temperature, the concentration of reactants.

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