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Chemical reactions occur all over the place. While we may associate chemical reactions with the sterile environment of the test tube and laboratory, this could not be further from the truth. Indeed, the massive number of transformations results in a dizzying, almost incomprehensible array of new substances and energy changes that occur in our world every second of every day.
Chemical reactions in nature can be far less controlled than in the lab, far messier at times, and they generally occur whether you want them to or not! Whether it’s a forest fire, the slow process of iron rusting in the presence of oxygen and water over years, or the delicate way fruit ripens on a tree, the process of converting one set of chemical substances (the reactants) to another set of chemical substances (the products) is known as a chemical reaction.
Though chemical reactions have been occurring on Earth since the beginning of time, early chemists did not begin to understand them until the 18th century. Fermentation, a process in which sugars are chemically converted into alcohol, has been known for centuries; however, the chemical basis of the reaction was unknown.
Examples of Chemical Reactions
Chemistry occurs all around you, not just in a lab.
A chemical reaction or chemical change occurs when matter interacts to form new products. Chemistry is at work every time you cook or clean. The Chemical reactions that are what keep your body alive and growing. When you take medications, light a match, or draw a breath, you will experience reactions.
These examples of chemical reactions from everyday life are just a small sample of the hundreds of thousands of reactions you encounter throughout the day.
1. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that plants use to convert carbon dioxide and water into food (glucose) and oxygen. It is one of the most common and important everyday chemical reactions because it is how plants produce food for themselves and animals and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. The reaction’s equation is:
2. Aerobic cellular respiration
Aerobic cellular respiration is the inverse process of photosynthesis in that energy molecules combine with the oxygen we breathe to produce the energy our cells require, as well as carbon dioxide and water. Cells use chemical energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
The overall equation for aerobic cellular respiration is as follows:
3. Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration is a series of chemical reactions that enable cells to obtain energy from complex molecules without the use of oxygen. When you exhaust the oxygen being delivered to your muscle cells, such as during intense or prolonged exercise, they perform anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration by yeast and bacteria is used in fermentation to produce ethanol, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals used in the production of cheese, wine, beer, yoghurt, bread, and a variety of other common products.
One type of anaerobic respiration has the following overall chemical equation:
4. Combustion reaction
The combustion reaction is visible whenever you strike a match, burn a candle, build a fire, or light a grill. Combustion produces carbon dioxide and water by combining energetic molecules with oxygen.
For example, the propane combustion reaction, which is found in gas grills and some fireplaces, has the following equation:
5. Rust
Rust is a red, flaky coating that forms on iron over time. This is an illustration of an oxidation reaction. Other common examples include the formation of verdigris on copper and silver tarnishing.
The chemical equation for iron rusting is as follows:
6. Acid-Base reaction
An acid-base reaction occurs when an acid (e.g., vinegar, lemon juice, sulfuric acid, or muriatic acid) reacts with a base (e.g., baking soda, soap, ammonia, or acetone). These reactions combine the acid and base to produce salt and water.
The only salt that can be formed is sodium chloride. Here’s the chemical equation for an acid-base reaction that yields potassium chloride, a common table salt substitute:
7. Soap and Detergent reactions
Chemical reactions clean soaps and detergents. Soap emulsifies grime, which means that oily stains bind to the soap and can be removed with water. Detergents act as surfactants, lowering water’s surface tension so that it can interact with oils, isolate them, and rinse them away.
Conclusion
Chemical reactions occur all over the place. While we may associate chemical reactions with the sterile environment of the test tube and laboratory, this could not be further from the truth. Whether it’s a forest fire, the slow process of iron rusting in the presence of oxygen and water over years, or the delicate way fruit ripens on a tree, the process of converting one set of chemical substances to another set of chemical substances is known as a chemical reaction. Fermentation, a process in which sugars are chemically converted into alcohol, has been known for centuries; however, the chemical basis of the reaction was unknown. The Chemical reactions that are what keep your body alive and growing.
