Understanding reactants and products is really important for learning how chemical reactions happen.

What are Reactants and Products?

• Reactants: These are the substances that change during a reaction.
• Products: These are the new substances that are made after the reaction takes place.

Why is This Important?

1. Seeing Changes: When we know what the reactants are, we can guess what the products will be. For example, when hydrogen and oxygen react ($2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O$), knowing the reactants helps us expect that water will be the product.

2. Types of Reactions: Different reactions happen in different ways. Here are two examples:

   • Synthesis: This is when elements come together to make something new.
   • Decomposition: This is when compounds break apart into simpler substances.

By understanding reactants and products, we can better analyze reactions, predict what will happen, and understand how matter changes.