Reaction
Definition
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.
Analogy
Imagine baking cookies as a chemical reaction. You start with individual ingredients (reactants), mix them together following a recipe (reaction), and end up with delicious cookies (products).
Related terms
Exothermic Reaction: A type of chemical reaction that releases energy by light or heat. Like burning wood on a campfire - you start with wood (reactant), it burns (reaction), and you get ash and heat (products).
Endothermic Reaction: This is opposite to exothermic reactions; these reactions absorb energy from their surroundings. Like ice melting - it absorbs heat from its surroundings to transform from solid to liquid form.
Redox Reaction: Short for reduction-oxidation reaction, this involves the transfer of electrons between two species.
"Reaction" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (4)
If a molecule's atomic structure is preserved, what does this tell you about the reaction?
A cell with a positive E° involves a thermodynamically ___ reaction.
A cell with a negative E° involves a thermodynamically ___ reaction.
The enthalpy of change for the reaction S (s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g) is -296.0 kJ/mol. The enthalpy of change for the reaction 2SO2 (g) + O2(g) → 2SO3 (g) is -198.2 kJ/mol. What is the enthalpy of change for the reaction S (s) + 3/2 O2 (g) → SO3 (g)?
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