What triggers a chemical reaction? - Kareem Jarrah
913,842 Views
34,733 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Chemicals are in everything we see, and the reactions between them can look like anything from rust on a spoon to an explosion on your stovetop. But why do these reactions happen in the first place? Kareem Jarrah answers this question by examining the two underlying forces that drive both endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions: enthalpy and entropy.
Everything you see around you is made of chemicals: the air that you breathe, the water that you drink, and the chair you are sitting on. Entropy is a characteristic of all chemicals, and more ordered chemicals have lower entropy. List two chemicals that you think have low entropy and two that have high entropy. Explain the reason for your choices.
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Kareem Jarrah
- Director Darcy Vorhees
- Animator Tom Beuerlein
- Script Editor Emma Bryce
- Narrator Addison Anderson
