Chemical Reactions: A Wire Of Magnesium With Oxygen

Chapter 13, “Chemical Reactions”, was also of great interest to me. “A change that alters the chemical composition of a substance and hence forms one or more new substances is called a chemical change, or more often, a chemical reaction (James T. Shipman 342).” In this summary paper, I will discuss some of the highlights of the chapter. An awesome example of a chemical reaction is that of photosynthesis, found in green plants. In photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide gas from the air, with energy from the sun, water from the soil and chlorophyll to make carbohydrates for food. Figure 13.1 – The Reaction of A wire of magnesium with Oxygen (page 342) of the textbook also shows how a wire of magnesium metal and oxygen in the
air combine to form magnesium oxide. Magnesium is used in fireworks because of the bright light produces by the reaction. I was not aware of this, so I found it quite fascinating. There are four different reaction types: Combination Reaction, when Magnesium reacts with oxygen to form Magnesium oxide; Decomposition Reaction, when water decomposes to form hydrogen and oxygen; Single-Replacement Reaction, when Copper reacts with silver nitrate to form silver and copper (II) nitrate; and, Double-Replacement Reaction, when Potassium iodide reacts with lead (II) nitrate to form lead (II) iodide and potassium nitrate. Spiritually, I think the perfect example of a chemical reaction is how when we come to Jesus all filthy with our sins. His saving blood covers our sin drenched souls, and we emerge cleansed and are a new creation. Praise God for his son Jesus.