Chemical reactions are processes in which several substances are combined and transformed into new substances with a different molecular structure that are called "products".
The substances that are combined are called "reactive", and the concept of it can be summarized in that they are all substances that interact with another. When they combine to create a product, they can change depending on the conditions in which the chemical reaction occurs.
¿Why are chemical reactions important?
These procedures are found everywhere, to the extent that chemical reactions occur within our own body. For example, when we digest the food they are transformed thanks to the enzymes, also when we breathe the oxygen is transformed to carbon dioxide.
The importance of these processes in the day to day, besides that we need them to live, is that they can also produce new compounds, which are used in the pharmaceutical field to create medicines and cure diseases.
Home experiments with chemical reactions
However, chemical reactions are not always so discrete, some of them can be observed and you can even play with them. Experimenting with chemical reactions is a fun way to learn, so you can try doing some of the following.
Rocket tea bags
This is one of the funniest and easiest chemical reactions to carry out. The materials you will need are just a plate, a tea bag and a match or lighter.
Actually for the experiment you will only need the tea bag. The first thing you should do is take the bag and empty its contents on the plate. You must unfold the bag and roll one side so that it is open at one end. Finally, take the match or lighter and set fire to the closed side of the bag.
What is going to happen is that, due to the fire, the tea bag will rise to the ceiling. This occurs because while the fire is burning the bag, it melts and, thanks to the hot air, is at a point will weigh less than the cold and will push the bag up.
Volcanic eruption (home lava volcano)
To carry out this reaction you only need kitchen vinegar and baking soda. If you want to accompany your experiment with a model in the form of a volcano, you could also use red dye to simulate that you make the color of lava.
The only thing you have to do is take the vinegar, add a few drops of red dye and stir to make a uniform liquid. Then you should take the baking soda and add a few teaspoons to the mixture.
What you will get is a reaction between the vinegar and the bicarbonate in which bubbles are produced and the liquid rises, just like lava from a volcano. If you want to have more bubbles, you can also add a little liquid soap before pouring the bicarbonate.
As you will see, chemical reactions are very interesting processes that are quite important for everyday life and are also very fun. If you want to know more home experiments similar to these about chemical reactions, visit other articles of our blog.