Chemical Reactions Flashcards
Chemical Reactions
A process that rearranges chemical bonds to create new substances.
Reactants
The substances which are combined and changed in the chemical reaction
Products
The new substances which result from a chemical reaction
Chemical Equation
An equation of chemical formulas that show the exact number of atoms and compounds in a chemical reaction. For example: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O
Exothermic
A reaction is exothermic if it releases more energy than it uses. Fire
Endothermic
A reaction is endothermic if it consumes more energy than it uses.
Activation Energy
Energy needed to break chemical bonds in the reactants to start a reaction.
Addition Reaction
Two or more substances chemically combined to form a new compound
Polymerization
A series of addition reactions that join small molecules into large chain molecules
Decomposition Reaction
A chemical reaction where a single compound is broken down to produce two or more smaller compounds.
Precipitate
A solid product that comes out of solution in a chemical reaction
Nuclear Reaction
A process that changes the nucleus of an atom and may turn one element into a completely different element
