Skip to main content

What triggers a chemical reaction? - Kareem Jarrah

907,450 Views

34,590 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 question

About 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

More from Actions and Reactions