G6_Chemical Reactions-Approaching-02

Would you dare to sit close to a bomb or some other device that may explode? You may be surprised by the reasons why you should. In fact, there are many good reasons to sit in close proximity to an explosive device. One reason is the person may have a desire to go fast. Another reason is they want to be safe.

It is hard to imagine how an explosive device, or bomb, could in anything in common with fun and safety.

In fact, every time you get in a car, an explosive device is poised for action. It is there and ready to protect you in a split second. 

It may be hard to believe, but air bags in cars are tiny explosive devices. You need not worry. The term explosive merely means that a chemical reaction happens very quickly. Air bags must respond the instant a car hits another car or object. The bag inflates almost instantaneously. The air bag helps to supply your body with a soft landing.

An explosion requires a chemical change to take place. Chemical changes also occur when wood is burned or food is cooked. Some changes happen slowly, like the burning of a log in a fireplace. Other chemical changes happen more rapidly. Extremely fast chemical changes are often referred to as explosive. Explosions, such as those caused by fireworks, are nothing more than a chemical change.

Unlike a physical change (when the substance does not change), a chemical change is when one substance is changed. The substance is changed, or transformed, into a new substance. For example, a piece of wood that is burned turns into ash and gas. Chemical changes require two or more substances to be mixed together. The result of this mixing is the formation of a completely new substance. Evidence of a chemical change includes color changes, gas production, changes in temperature, etc.

So what does a chemical change, or to be more exact, a chemical reaction, have to do with going fast? As it turns out, everything!