Chemical Reactivity

Chemical Reactivity Describes The Ability Of A Substance To Participate In Chemical Reactions. The Reactivity Of A Substance Varies Depending On The Properties That It Has. For Instance, Certain Atoms Or Molecules Such As Oxygen Have A Tendency To React With Other Substances To Form New Compounds. This Is Due To The Atoms Or Molecules Having An Affinity For Certain Substances, Including Other Atoms Of The Same Substance. In Chemical Reactions, The Substances Taking Part In The Reaction Are Known As Reactants, And The Products Formed As A Result Of The Reaction Are Known As Products. Chemical Reactions Occur When Two Or More Reactants Combine To Form One Or More Products. For Example, In The Reaction Between Oxygen And Hydrogen, Oxygen (O2) Reacts With Hydrogen (H2) To Form Water (H2O). Reactivity Also Varies Depending On The Environmental Conditions In Which The Reaction Takes Place. Temperature, For Instance, Can Significantly Affect A Reaction Rate. Temperature Affects The Ability Of The Reactants To Interact With Each Other, And Therefore, The Rate At Which The Reaction Occurs. The Same Can Be Said Of Pressure And Other Conditions Such As Ph. The Amount Of Energy Released Or Absorbed During A Reaction Is Another Factor Affecting A Reaction's Rate. In General, Exothermic Reactions, Those That Release Energy, Tend To Proceed Much More Quickly Than Endothermic Reactions, Which Absorb Energy From The Environment. To Optimize A Reaction, Chemists May Adjust The Temperature Or Pressure In The Reaction Vessel, Alter The Ph Of The Environment, Or Add A Catalyst To The Reaction. A Catalyst Is A Substance That Increases The Rate Of A Reaction Without Being Consumed In The Process. As Such, Catalysts Can Be Used To Increase The Efficiency Of A Reaction And Make It Take Less Time.