Importance of Chemical Reactions

When reactants react chemically with one another, the result is a chemical transformation that results in the formation of products.

 Examples include respiration, where we inhale oxygen, which combines with glucose to make carbon dioxide, water, and energy, among other things.

  The reaction is as follows:- 

C6H12O6 + 6O2 —–> 6CO2+ 6H2O + Energy 

Chemical reactions occur when molecules interact and affect one another in a controlled environment. 

 Atomic bonds in molecules are broken and repaired in novel ways as a result of this process.

The chemical events that take place at the heart of essentially every biological process in the universe are the building blocks of life.

 Chemical reactions are responsible for the formation of stars, and chemical reactions in the core of our sun are responsible for the ignition of our sun. 

Chemical reactions had a role in the evolution of life on Earth.

At its core, the cycle of life is a series of chemical interactions that take place over time. 

Every aspect of our being, including our ability to think and move, is the result of chemical interactions that take place within our bodies.

The Fundamental Concepts of Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction is a process that occurs when two or more molecules come into contact and combine to generate a new substance (s). 

Compounds that interact with one another to make new compounds are referred to as reactants, whilst the new compounds that are formed are referred to as products. 

Chemical reactions play an important role in a variety of industries, cultures, and even in our daily lives, as demonstrated below.  

They occur on a continuous basis in our immediate environment, such as the rusting of iron, the firing of pottery, the fermentation of wine, and so on.

Chemical changes must occur in a chemical reaction in order for it to be observed physically.

 Physical changes such as precipitation, heat production, colour change and other phenomena are common in chemical reactions.

The formation of a new link between two atoms or ions or molecules can result in neither an atom being destroyed nor generated, but rather the formation of a new product from the reactants can result in a reaction. 

The pace of reaction is determined by and impacted by elements like pressure, temperature, and the concentration of the reactants in the reaction mixture.

Chemical Reactions Are Important for a Variety of Reasons

Chemical reactions are the process through which new types of matter are created. 

While nuclear events can result in the creation of new matter, the vast majority of the chemicals that you come into contact with on a daily basis are the consequence of chemical transformations. 

The qualities of matter can be better understood through the study of chemical reactions.

 We can learn about a sample’s chemical properties by observing how it interacts with other materials and other samples.  

Using these characteristics, one can determine the identity of an unknown specimen or forecast how different types of matter will interact with one another. 

Through the study of chemical reactions, we can gain a better understanding of and explanation for how the natural world functions. 

 A variety of chemical reactions are responsible for anything from turning food into fuel to causing pyrotechnics to burst to causing food to change when it is cooked to making soap remove filth. 

Nothing would ever change if chemical reactions didn’t take place. Atoms would continue to be atoms. 

 There would be no formation of new molecules. It was impossible for any organisms to survive. 

 In the absence of interactions between different types of matter, the universe would be incredibly monotonous.

Chemical reactions are shown by the following examples: 

Photosynthesis 

Several of you may already be aware of the word photosynthesis, which is frequently mentioned in science textbooks under the biology section of the text. Plants, like humans, undergo a variety of chemical reactions. For example, a chemical reaction known as photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into plant food – glucose and oxygen – through the process of photosynthesis. It is considered to be one of the most important chemical reactions since it results in the production of oxygen and the provision of food for both plants and animals.

Light + 6 CO2 + 6 H2O –> light +C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Acid-Base Reactions are a type of chemical reaction.

Acid-base reactions are most commonly triggered when an acid (such as vinegar, lemon juice, battery acid, muriatic acid, or carbonic acid (from carbonated beverages)) is combined with a base (such as ammonia, baking soda, or lye).

 The most well-known example of this is the reaction between vinegar and baking soda, which results in the formation of water, sodium acetate, and carbon dioxide gas as byproducts.

NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 –>NaC2H3O2 + H2O + CO2

Aerobic Cellular Respiration is a type of cellular respiration that occurs in the body’s cells.

It is in this case that animals employ oxygen, which is produced by plants, to undertake reverse reactions of photosynthesis in order to provide energy to their cells.

 Aerobic respiration is characterised by the formation of water and chemical energy in the form of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, as a result of a chemical reaction between oxygen and glucose.

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (36 ATP)

Conclusion

Whenever chemical bonds between atoms are established or broken, a chemical reaction is initiated.  

The chemicals that are introduced into a chemical reaction are referred to as the reactants, and the compounds that are created at the conclusion of the reaction are referred to as the products of the reaction. 

 It is common to draw an arrow connecting the reactants and products to illustrate the direction of a chemical reaction. 

However, a chemical reaction is not always a one-way street, as we will see in the following section.

Consider the  example of the reaction for the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen.