8.

5E
Evidence of Chemical Change
A chemical reaction occurs when the chemical identity of the reactants
are different than that of the products. A new substance or substances
forms with properties different from the original reactants.



Often times, chemical reactions result in changes easily observed.

Evidence of chemical reactions includes energy changes such as a gain
or loss of heat (temperature changes), the production of light, formation
of a precipitate, color changes, and gas production.



Sign 1 - Change in Temperature

Temperature changes indicate the formation of new substances.
Chemical reactions can either give off heat or use heat:

Exothermic Reactions - A chemical heat pack is an example of an

exothermic reaction that produces heat. A reaction is exothermic
(loss in enthalpy) when more energy is released in forming new
bonds than it takes to break the original bonds of the reactants
(feels warmer). A common substance in a heat pack is magnesium
sulfate (MgSO4). When the heat pack is activated, the magnesium
sulfate reacts with water. The result is the production of heat,
which is used to soothe an injury
Endothermic Reactions - Chemical cold packs are examples of
endothermic reactions. They work in an opposite way from the
exothermic reaction; when ammonium nitrate and water mix, it
then absorbs the surrounding heat and the results feel very cool to
the touch. In endothermic reactions heat is absorbed when
transforming reactants to products (gain in enthalpy). These
temperature changes are evidence of a chemical reaction. When the
reaction takes more energy to break the bonds of the reactants than
is released when new chemical bonds form, the reaction is
endothermic (feels colder)



Sign 2 - Light Production

The burning of logs in a fireplace is the reaction of the wood and oxygen
along with a heat initiation source. Wood is made of cellulose, a
combination of different substances that contain carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen. When this combustion reaction occurs, a large amount of energy

is produced in the form of both heat and light. Chemical reactions can
also be seen in the bright light and heat in fireworks displays. Glowing
sticks also produce light when chemicals in the tube react and emit not
heat, but a fluorescent glow.



Sign 3 - Precipitate Formation

In precipitation reactions a precipitate is a solid substance that forms and
separates from a solution. A precipitate often settles to the bottom of a
liquid reaction. A precipitate forms because the solid produced is
insoluble in aqueous solutions. This is a new substance formed with new
properties and is evidence of a chemical change. An example in nature
of this type of precipitation is the formation of minerals as waterinsoluble compounds. Pipes in our homes get clogged because
precipitates of magnesium and calcium oxides have deposited
themselves within the pipes. This can happen with hard water. A
classic example of precipitate formation is the combination of calcium
chloride (road de-icing salt) with sodium carbonate (caustic cleaning
agent), which produce sodium chloride (table salt) and calcium
carbonate (chalk).



Sign 4 - Gas Formation

When gas is produced during a reaction, it is also evidence of a new
substance formed. For example, when baking soda (solid) is mixed with
vinegar (liquid), carbon dioxide (gas) is one of the products formed. The
new products formed from this reaction, including CO2 gas, have
properties different from the original reactants.



Sign 5 - Color Change

The color of a substance may change when its chemical composition
changes. An example of a color change as evidence of a chemical
reaction is seen when crystal violet dye is added to a solution containing
hydroxide ion. The intensity of the color decreases over time until it
disappears. The product of the reaction is colorless in a water solution. A
color change represents more than just a physical change such as



diluting a substance or adding food color to a substance. These physical

changes are not evidence of chemical reactions.