• Question: Why do chemical reactions happen

    Asked by Tom to Alex, Anaïs, Peter, Sarwat, Shreesha on 6 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Sarwat Iqbal

      Sarwat Iqbal answered on 6 Mar 2015:

      All chemical reactions happen because atoms try to achieve a full outer shell of electrons. The total number of atoms is the same before and after the reaction.
      When an atom reacts with another atom to form a chemical bond
      it will either
      1. Lose electrons (stable positive ion).
      2. Gain electrons (stable negative ion).
      or 3. Share electrons (stable molecule).

    • Photo: Anaïs Pujol

      Anaïs Pujol answered on 8 Mar 2015:

      Due to a number of reasons including energy (reaction has to be favourable), electrons/protons transfer and collision.

    • Photo: Peter Maskell

      Peter Maskell answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      because everything wants to be stable…

    • Photo: Shreesha Bhat

      Shreesha Bhat answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Its just like friends with benefit. If you want something, and someone has that, you form a bond of friendship. Its the same with molecules, lets say for example, one has electron to donate and the other molecules is in need, the one with the electron donates and they form a bond, hence the reaction happen!

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