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Chemical Reactions

In a chemical reaction, substances change into new ones. Burning wood, rusting iron and baking a cake are all chemical reactions.

๐Ÿ’ก Fun fact

Mixing baking soda with vinegar makes fizzy carbon dioxide gas.

All about Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction happens when substances change into new substances with different properties. The starting substances are called reactants, and the new ones are called products. Atoms are rearranged, not destroyed.

Signs of a chemical reaction include a colour change, bubbles or gas, heat or light, and a new smell. Burning wood, rusting iron and baking a cake are all chemical reactions, because the materials cannot easily be turned back into what they were.

๐ŸŽฎ Try it yourself!

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Real-life uses of Chemical Reactions

  • Baking bread and cakes, where yeast and heat change the dough
  • Making fireworks that flash with bright colours
  • Preventing iron from rusting with paint or coatings

Frequently asked questions about Chemical Reactions

How is a chemical change different from a physical change?

A physical change, like melting ice, can be reversed without making new substances. A chemical change creates new substances.

Why does baking soda and vinegar fizz?

They react to make carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles.

What is a catalyst?

A substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up, such as the enzymes that help digest your food.