Why it's a chemical reaction:
* New substances are formed: Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a different substance than water (H₂O) and oxygen gas (O₂). The breakdown process changes the arrangement of atoms within the molecules, creating entirely new substances.
* Chemical bonds are broken and formed: In hydrogen peroxide, the bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms are broken. New bonds are formed to create water and oxygen gas.
* Energy is involved: This reaction usually releases heat (exothermic), indicating a chemical change.
Reactants and Products:
* Reactant: The substance that undergoes the change – hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)
* Products: The substances formed as a result of the change – water (H₂O) and oxygen gas (O₂)
The chemical equation:
The chemical equation for this reaction summarizes the transformation:
2 H₂O₂ → 2 H₂O + O₂
This equation tells us:
* Two molecules of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decompose into...
* Two molecules of water (H₂O) and...
* One molecule of oxygen gas (O₂)
