Question

What happens to the bonds in a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

The bonds in the molecules or atoms i.e. reactant taking part in the chemical reaction get broken and are formed again forming the reactant molecule which gives us a new substance during a chemical reaction.

Let us take an example-

In the reaction between Silver nitrate and Sodium chloride, we get Silver chloride and Sodium nitrate.

$\underset{\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{nitrate}}{{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3}+\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride}}{\mathrm{NaCl}}\to \underset{\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{chloride}}{\mathrm{AgCl}}+\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride}}{{\mathrm{NaNO}}_3}$

Bond activity during the reaction-

• The bond in Silver nitrate is breaking forming Silver and Nitrate ions.
• The bond in Sodium chloride is breaking forming Sodium and Chloride ions.
• There is the formation of a bond between Silver and Chloride ions.
• There is the formation of a bond between Sodium and Nitrate ions.

Thus, we get our reactants which are Silver chloride and Sodium nitrate.