Key Differences Between Reactants and Products in Chemical Reactions

1. What They Are:

   • Reactants: These are the substances that change during a chemical reaction.
   • Products: These are the new substances that are created after the reaction.

2. Where They Are Found:

   • Reactants are usually on the left side of a chemical equation.
   • Products are found on the right side.

3. Energy Levels:

   • Reactants often have higher energy levels.
   • Products usually have lower energy levels. This shows that energy is released in some reactions, called exothermic reactions.

4. An Example:

   • In the reaction: $2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O$
     • The reactants are $2H_2$ (hydrogen) and $O_2$ (oxygen).
     • The product is $2H_2O$ (water).

Knowing the differences between reactants and products is important. It helps us understand what happens during chemical reactions and how they are used in the real world.