What are atoms in a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

Atoms are very very very small and are made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons.

Neutrons and protons make up the nucleus of the atom, and electrons spin rapidly around the nucleus. Millions of millions of atoms make up an element.

Answer 2

Chemical reactions occur when atoms/molecules have two things: A lower-energy alternative than the state they're in, and enough energy to get to that state. Furthermore, it helps if more products are created than the reactants that go into the reaction. (entropy)

For example, let's look at the reaction of methane and oxygen (or burning of natural gas). Methane is a carbon surround by four hydrogens and oxygen is just O2. The products of the reaction are water and carbon dioxide. Now, water and carbon dioxide are very stable, or very low in energy. This is observed as they don't react with anything at all (compared to methane, which burns). So, water and carbon dioxide are lower in energy than methane and oxygen. This difference in energy is released as heat.

But if you leave methane in air, it doesn't just suddenly start burning. Energy is needed to overcome a reaction barrier to get the reaction started. Methane and oxygen needs energy to first break up and re-arrange themselves. This is why you need to light the methane before it starts to burn.

Answer 3

When a chemical reaction takes place, atoms become rearranged as bonds are broken and formed. These atoms then rearrange to form new products.

Answer 4

Atoms are rearranged in a chemical reaction.

Answer 5

The atoms in a chemical reaction are usually the reactants but not necessarily. It is possible for atoms to be product.

Answer 6

During a chemical reaction the initial substances (reactants) are transformed in the final substances (products).

Answer 7

In chemical reactions atoms are neither created nor destroyed, they are rearranged.

Answer 8

in chemical reactions atoms are destroyed