In chemistry, it's important to know about reactants and products to understand chemical reactions better. Let's make it simple!

What Are Reactants?
Reactants are the starting materials that change during a chemical reaction. Think of them as what you have before the reaction begins. For example, when methane burns:

$\text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}$

Here, methane ($\text{CH}_4$) and oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) are the reactants.

What Are Products?
Products are the new substances created after the reaction happens. You can find them on the right side of the equation. In the same example, carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) and water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) are the products.

How to Find Reactants and Products
To spot the reactants and products in a chemical equation, look for the arrow ($\rightarrow$). This arrow shows the change from reactants to products:

• Left Side (Reactants): This is what you start with.
• Right Side (Products): This is what you end up with.

Quick Example:
Take the reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas:

$2\text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{H}_2\text{O}$

• Reactants: $2\text{H}_2$ (hydrogen) and $\text{O}_2$ (oxygen)
• Products: $2\text{H}_2\text{O}$ (water)

If you understand reactants and products, it helps you predict what will happen in a reaction and keep chemical equations balanced. This is a basic but important skill in chemistry!