Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Lesson 8.1
Chemical Reactions

Introduction
Chemical reactions happen every day, either we want it or not. When we think about a chemical
reaction, the first thing that comes into mind is a laboratory set-up, right? While we only think of a
laboratory setting for chemical reactions, nature has a vast amount of chemical reactions going
on.

A typical example of a chemical reaction is the rusting of iron. Fences, grills, and bars made up of
iron over time become reddish - brown and crisp. Another example would be a piece

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

of wood burning to give rise to ashes when it cools down. There are many examples of chemical
reactions around us. In this lesson, we will be discussing chemical reactions and to describe
different evidence that a chemical reaction has occurred.

Learning Objectives DepEd Competency

In this lesson, you should be able to do the Describe evidences that a chemical
reaction has occurred
following:
(STEM_GC11CR-If-g-36).
● Define a chemical reaction.
● Describe different evidence
accompanied in chemical reactions.

Warm Up
What Do You See? 20 minutes

In this activity, we will be observing different evidence of the occurrence of a chemical reaction.

Materials
● vinegar
● baking soda
● small styrofoam cups (2)
● milk
● beaker (small)
● thermometer

Procedure
A. Formation of a Gas
1. For each group, place 10 mL of the vinegar in a styrofoam cup.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

2. Place a thermometer in the vinegar. Take note of the starting temperature of the vinegar.

3. Add small amounts of baking soda to the vinegar in the styrofoam cup and stir using the
thermometer.
4. Observe what happens and record the resulting temperature.

B. Formation of a New Compound

1. Place a beaker on top of a table.
2. Pour in 200 mL of milk into the beaker.
3. Add 50 mL of vinegar into the milk.
4. Stir gently and let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes.
5. Observe what happens to the mixture after 15 minutes.

Observation Tables
Table 8.1.1. Observations on the changes in temperature

Setup Observations

vinegar + baking soda

Table 8.1.2. Observations on the mixture of milk and vinegar

Setup Observations

milk + vinegar

Guide Questions
1. What happened to the temperature reading after the baking soda was mixed to the
vinegar?
2. What immediately formed after mixing the vinegar and the baking soda?
3. What happened to the milk - vinegar mixture after letting it stand for 15 minutes?
4. For both experiments, were you able to create new compounds? Yes or No?

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Learn about It!

Chemical Reactions
Chemical reactions happen every day around us. Chemical reactions, by definition, are the
processes by which elements or compounds interact with one another to form a new
compound. At the atomic and molecular levels, it occurs when chemical bonds between atoms
are formed and broken.

Chemical reactions always involve chemical changes. Briefly, a chemical reaction is a process
where reactants, the starting materials, are transformed into new materials or substances which
we refer to as products. In reality, we cannot see the bonds of atoms that are being broken and
are subsequently formed, right? So, how do we tell that a chemical reaction has occurred?

There are several indicators that we can look into in order for us to tell whether a chemical reaction
has occurred. We will discuss them briefly in this lesson.

Change in Color

How can we associate the change in

color to chemical reactions?

Recall that color is a physical property that is unique to a certain compound or substance. It is a
distinguishing property for the uniqueness of compounds. In our example about the rusting of iron,
we can see a visible color change from black or gray iron steel to reddish-brown rust. Although
color change is a good indicator of a chemical reaction, the majority of chemical reactions will not
always exhibit a change in the color. Some examples of chemical reactions with visible chemical
change are shown in Fig. 8.1.1.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

autumn leaves turning green to yellow and

ripening of fruits
orange

frying of eggs

Fig. 8.1.1. Some chemical reactions involving color changes

Change in Temperature

How can we associate temperature

changes to chemical reactions?

The change in temperature is another indicator of a chemical reaction. When bonds of atoms in a
chemical reaction are being broken or formed, energy in the form of heat is either released or
absorbed by the reaction. As such, the temperature of the chemical reaction may either increase
or decrease.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

A typical example of a chemical reaction that exhibits a change in temperature is combustion. A

burning wood when undergoing a chemical reaction with oxygen gas releases large amounts of
energy in the form of heat, which we use in many different applications.

The combustion of wood releases high amounts of heat.

Formation of Gas

How can we associate the formation of

gas to chemical reactions?

One of the most notable pieces of evidence of a chemical reaction is the effervescence or the
evolution of a gas. In mixing acetic acid in vinegar and baking soda, effervescence can be
observed almost immediately. Carbon dioxide, the gas that was formed, readily escapes the
mixture.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Another chemical reaction that involves the formation of gas can be found in baking bread. Yeast
is added to break down the sugars in the flour. As a result, the dough rises because of the
formation of carbon dioxide gas.

The rising of dough is caused by the production of CO2 gas.

Formation of Precipitate

Is precipitate formation a direct piece of

evidence of a chemical reaction?

A strong indication of a chemical reaction is the formation of a precipitate. Precipitation arises

when two aqueous solutions upon mixing form an insoluble solid known as a precipitate. In the
laboratory, when silver nitrate solution and sodium chloride solution are mixed in a test tube, a
white precipitate is formed and eventually settles in the bottom, as shown in Fig. 8.1.2.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Fig. 8.1.2. The precipitation of silver chloride in solution.

Did You Know?

Stalactites, coming from the ceilings, and stalagmites (growing from the
cave’s floor) are precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The dissolved
calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2) in water seeps through the crevices in the
roofs of the cave. As the water carrying the calcium carbonate falls from those
crevices and reacting with the air inside, the Ca(HCO 3)2 turns back into the
insoluble carbon carbonate (CaCO3). This process takes for many millions of
years until a grown stalactite and stalagmites are formed.

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Unit 8: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Remember
In a chemical reaction, there are different indicators that can
be observed:
1. color change;
2. temperature change;
3. formation of gas; and
4. formation of precipitates.

Do chemical changes typically have only

one or multiple signs of a chemical
change occurring?

Key Points
____________________________________________________________________________________

● Chemical reactions are processes by which elements or compounds interact

with one another to form a new compound.
● Indicators of a chemical reaction include, but not limited to,
○ change in color;
○ change in temperature;
○ formation of gas; and
○ formation of precipitates.