Reactants to Products
Reactants to Products is a Grade 7 science concept from Amplify Science (California) Chapter 2: Reactions, introducing the fundamental vocabulary of chemical reactions. Reactants are the starting substances that enter a reaction, and products are the new substances that result. Unlike physical mixtures, chemical reactions create new materials that cannot be simply reversed by physical means.
Key Concepts
A chemical reaction is a transformation process. The starting substances are called reactants , and the ending substances are called products .
Unlike a physical mixture where ingredients can be separated easily, a chemical reaction creates new materials that cannot be turned back into reactants by simple physical means.
Common Questions
What are reactants and products in a chemical reaction?
Reactants are the starting substances that enter a chemical reaction. Products are the new substances formed as a result. A chemical reaction transforms reactants into products with different properties.
How is a chemical reaction different from a physical mixture?
In a physical mixture, substances are combined but can be separated back out by physical means. In a chemical reaction, reactants form new products that cannot be restored to their original forms by simple physical separation.
Can chemical reactions be reversed?
Most chemical reactions are not easily reversible by simple physical means. Unlike dissolving salt in water (which can be reversed by evaporation), chemical reactions form new substances that require additional chemical reactions to break down.
What do Grade 7 students learn about reactants and products in Amplify Science?
In Chapter 2 of Amplify Science California Grade 7, students learn the fundamental vocabulary of chemical reactions — reactants and products — and understand that chemical change creates new materials fundamentally different from the starting substances.