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Chemical reactions happen all the time! Many chemical reactions can be seen in our everyday lives actually, such as the car that begins to rust after a few years or the banana that starts to turn brown after sitting out for too long! Even burning wood in the winter is a chemical reaction, although not as common in Malaysia, it is true!

 

Chemical reactions happen in many different types of ways, so scientists have indicators so they can tell whether or not a chemical reaction has happened.

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These are just a few examples of the indicators of chemical reactions and what occurs for each of them…

 

However, when scientists are trying to figure out if a chemical reaction has happened, they compare it to a physical change. A chemical reaction and physical change may seem similar but are actually quite different! 

 

A Chemical reaction is a process where reactants go through a chemical change that changes them into other substances. But a physical change is when the form of something changes!

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For example… when water changes into steam after being boiled in the kettle. 

 

You may THINK a chemical reaction has happened because based on our list of indicators the boiled water produces HEAT! However, this is wrong. Water has not combined with anything to make steam. Steam is still water, just in a different form! It’s hotter now, but still water! It can be different to understand at first but as you move on into middle school and high school you’ll learn all about it! 

 

In conclusion, we can judge whether the chemical reaction is happening from the appearance. You can know whether the chemical reaction is happening from the colour, temperature, smell, production of gas and etc. 

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