To spot reactants and products in everyday chemical reactions, it's important to know some simple definitions and what happens during these processes.

1. What They Mean:

• Reactants: These are the substances that go through a change during a reaction.
• Products: These are what we get after the reaction happens.

2. How to Tell Them Apart:

When you see reactions in everyday life, here are some signs to help you find reactants and products:

• Change in Color: For example, when iron meets oxygen, it rusts and changes from shiny gray to a reddish-brown color.

• Gas Bubbles: When baking, mixing baking soda with vinegar creates bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

• Energy Changes: When you burn wood, it gives off heat and light, which shows a change is taking place.

3. Examples of Reactions:

• Photosynthesis: This is a process in plants where carbon dioxide and water come together to make glucose (which is sugar) and oxygen.

  • Illustrated Reaction: $6 \ \text{CO}_2 + 6 \ \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \ \text{O}_2$

• Burning Methane: When methane gas mixes with oxygen, it creates carbon dioxide and water.

  • Illustrated Reaction: $\text{CH}_4 + 2 \ \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2 \ \text{H}_2\text{O}$

By understanding these basic ideas, you can easily identify reactants and products in different situations!