Chemical reactions fuel the world around us. From the water we drink to the food we digest, these processes are everywhere and endlessly fascinating. Read on to learn about five chemical reactions that occur in the real world so you can gain a greater understanding of them.
Oxidation
The oxidation process represents a chemical change that occurs when something encounters oxygen. When it happens to an atom, the atom will lose electrons.
However, you have likely encountered oxidation in real life when rust has formed on metal, such as on an iron gate. This occurs because the iron on the gate reacts with the air’s oxygen and moisture, causing it to become flaky and red. By better understanding oxidation, we can appreciate how it influences our environment.
Synthesis
One of the little-known facts about chemical synthesis is that it often occurs in our natural environments. The process involves combining two or more elements or compounds to form a new substance.
A classic example is hydrogen and oxygen combining to produce water. Observing a simple process like condensation provides insight into synthesis as gaseous water vapor transitions to liquid water.
Combustion
Another chemical reaction that occurs in the real world is combustion. This involves a rapid reaction between a substance and oxygen, producing heat and light. When you burn wood for a fire, you are witnessing this reaction.
The chemical bonds in the wood break, releasing energy through heat and light. So the next time you light a fire to get warm, remember that you are helping generate energy naturally.
Digestion
It is also a chemical reaction when your body breaks down food in your digestive system. Enzymes in your saliva initiate this process by converting carbohydrates into molecules.
This continues in your stomach as your gastric juices turn your food into nutrients. Understanding digestion helps us appreciate the complex system that powers human bodies by converting food into energy and essential nutrients.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis involves converting sunlight into chemical energy in plants. During this process, chlorophyll in plant leaves captures sunlight, transforming carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
This natural reaction provides food for the plant and releases oxygen for us to breathe. This makes photosynthesis a fundamental chemical reaction that sustains life on Earth.
Now that you know more about these chemical reactions, you have insight into the complex mechanisms that drive the world. They influence everything from rusted objects to the energy fueling our bodies. Now, you can better appreciate how chemistry shapes the world around us.
