• Question: why do chemicals react with each other?

    Asked by § Kxtie McGexwn § to Adrian, Gaia, Jim, Scott, Vicky on 11 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Gaia Andreoletti

      Gaia Andreoletti answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      Because they have “compatible” atoms that are able to make bonds with each other. Like a friendship 😉

    • Photo: Adrian Buzatu

      Adrian Buzatu answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      They exchange electrons to reach to a new state with a lower energy. It’s a basic law in physics that interactions happen to minimize the potential energy.

    • Photo: Scott Lawrie

      Scott Lawrie answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      Elements like to share electrons so they become more stable. Some elements are really keen to either gain or lose an electron, so they react most violently with other chemicals!

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