Chemical changes occur when substances undergo a transformation that alters their chemical structure or composition. Here are several examples:
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Combustion: Burning wood, coal, or gasoline results in new products such as carbon dioxide and water vapor.
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Rusting of Iron: When iron reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air, it forms iron oxide, commonly known as rust.
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Culinary Reactions: Baking a cake involves chemical changes, where ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, and baking powder react to form new compounds, resulting in a transformed texture and flavor.
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Photosynthesis: Plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through a chemical reaction driven by sunlight.
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Acid-Base Reactions: Mixing vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate.
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Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide: When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it forms water and oxygen gas, often catalyzed by substances like manganese dioxide.
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Fermentation: Yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide through a chemical process, as seen in brewing beer or making bread.
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Digestion: The process by which our bodies break down food involves many chemical reactions, including the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.
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Souring of Milk: The lactose in milk is converted into lactic acid by bacteria, causing it to sour and curdle.
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Formation of a Precipitate: Mixing two solutions can cause a solid to form, such as when sodium chloride is mixed with silver nitrate, creating silver chloride.
These examples illustrate how chemical changes involve the formation of new substances with distinct properties.
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