Chemical reaction

**History:**
– Antoine Lavoisier developed the theory of combustion as a chemical reaction with oxygen.
– Chemical reactions such as combustion in fire, fermentation, and the reduction of ores to metals were known since antiquity.
– Initial theories of transformation of materials were developed by Greek philosophers.
– Alchemists in the Middle Ages studied chemical transformations and attempted to convert lead into gold.
– The artificial production of chemical substances was a central goal for medieval alchemists.

**Characteristics:**
– Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms and an energy change.
– Reactants or reagents are the substances initially involved in a chemical reaction.
– Chemical reactions yield one or more products with different properties.
– Reactions often consist of a sequence of individual sub-steps.
– Reaction rates are influenced by temperature and chemical concentration.

**Types:**
– Reactions can be classified as redox or non-redox.
– Redox reactions involve oxidation and reduction.
– Most simple redox reactions fall into categories like combination, decomposition, or single displacement.
– Non-redox reactions do not involve oxidation and reduction.
– Different chemical reactions are used in chemical synthesis and biochemistry.

**Applications:**
– Chemical reactions are used in chemical synthesis to obtain desired products.
– In biochemistry, consecutive series of chemical reactions form metabolic pathways.
– Enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions, increasing reaction rates.
– Metabolic syntheses and decompositions occur in cells due to enzyme activity.
– Chemical reactions are used in various fields for practical purposes.

**Extensions:**
– The concept of chemical reactions has been extended to reactions between entities smaller than atoms.
– This includes nuclear reactions, radioactive decays, and reactions between elementary particles.
– Quantum field theory describes reactions at a fundamental level.
– Understanding reactions at a microscopic level is crucial in various scientific disciplines.
– The study of chemical reactions continues to evolve with advancements in technology and theoretical frameworks.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_reaction