Chemical Reactions

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Chemical reactions occur all the time - when fuels are burnt, in the industrial extraction of metals from their ores, and in many natural life processes. The study of reactions is important to chemistry, as it is the means by which substances change.

CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
Information about reactions can be recorded using balanced chemical equations. The equation will describe, in quantitative
terms, how much of a product will be formed from a given mass of reactants. An example of a chemical reaction is when coal is burnt in air:
C + O2 fi CO2

Here, coal (which is a form of carbon) reacts with oxygen molecules to give carbon dioxide (and heat).

RATES OF REACTION

Reactions can occur at different speeds. The rate of reaction depends mostly on the reactants concerned - some naturally react faster than others. However, certain factors can help speed up reactions. These factors areincreasing the heat of the reactants,
increasing the concentration of the reactants, use of a catalyst etc.