What takes place in a chemical reaction?

Question

2378 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-07-21T06:35:13

$"What occurs in a chemical reaction?"$

$"The formation of new substances....."$

$"The formation of new substances....."$
$"...and the making and breaking of strong chemical bonds."$

Note that this is distinct from physical change......which are largely changes of state......

$H_2O(s)stackrel(Delta)rarrH_2O(l)stackrel(Delta)rarrH_2O(g)$

or $CO_2(s) rarrCO_2(g)$

......chemical bonds have not been broken here.......

On the other hand for.........

$CH_4(g) + 2O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(l)$

or.......

$Ca(s) + Cl_2(g) rarr CaCl_2(s)$

or even......

$NaCl(s) stackrel(H_2O)rarrNa^+(aq)+Cl^(-)(aq)$

....new substances have been formed and strong chemical bonds have been broken, and thus these ARE ALL examples of chemical change.