Chemical Reactants and Products

Chemical Reactants and Products

Introduction

• Chemical reactions involve combining substances to create something new.
• Analogy: Mixing blue and red paint results in purple, not just blue and red.

Reactants and Products

• In a chemical reaction, molecules or compounds interact to form different substances.
• Representing chemicals with letters:
  • $A + B \rightarrow C$
  • Compounds A and B react to produce compound C.
• Reactants: Substances that react.
• Products: Substances that are produced.

Chemical Equations

• Arrow indicates the direction of the reaction.
• Reactants are written before the arrow.
• Products are written after the arrow.
• Arrow signifies "produces." For example:
  • Reactants $\rightarrow$ Products

Example: Sugar Formation

• Glucose and fructose react to form sucrose (table sugar).
• Reactants: Glucose and fructose.
• Product: Sucrose.

Reversible Reactions

• Reversible reactions can proceed in both directions.
• Represented by double arrows: $\rightleftharpoons$
• Example: Sucrose formation and breakdown.
  • $Glucose + Fructose \rightleftharpoons Sucrose$
• Forward reaction: Glucose + Fructose $\rightarrow$ Sucrose
  • Reactants: Glucose and fructose.
  • Product: Sucrose.
• Backward reaction: Sucrose $\rightarrow$ Glucose + Fructose
  • Reactant: Sucrose.
  • Products: Glucose and fructose.

Identifying Reactants and Products

• Read the reaction in the direction it occurs.
• Follow the arrow to determine reactants and products.