Chemical Reaction

chemistry · atoms · transformation · energy

Atoms get rearranged. In a chemical reaction, atoms that were bonded together in one way break apart and reconnect in a new way. This creates brand new substances that didn't exist before, like when hydrogen and oxygen combine to make water.

Energy always changes. Every chemical reaction either releases energy (like fire burning) or absorbs energy (like ice melting). This energy change is a big clue that a real chemical reaction happened.

Bonds break and form. Chemical bonds are like connections between atoms. During a reaction, old bonds snap apart and new bonds click together, totally transforming what you started with into something completely different.

Equations show the swap. Scientists write chemical equations to show exactly what atoms start out together and what new atoms end up together. It's like a recipe that shows the before and after of a chemical transformation.

Some reactions are radioactive. Nuclear chemistry is when atoms get so unstable that their cores actually change during a reaction. This is different from normal reactions where only the electrons move around.