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| Reactions |
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Reactions throughout nature are commonplace - though not all reactions are common! From chemical reactions that occur on a continual basis to the reactions of living beings to various outside stimuli, these responses of one substance to another are an essential element of the broad tapestry of life on Planet Earth. In fact, there are so many different types of reactions that there is scant space herein to list them all.
Some of the most interesting reactions occur during the interplay of various chemicals and elements with one another. The chemicals that are burned to produce the energy all cars need to operate is but one example among many. Others include the reaction of the various chemical involved in the creation of photos that enable an image to be captured once those chemicals are exposed to light, and the reaction of the common antacid tablet when it comes into contact with the stomach acids that form the foundation of indigestion.
We as human beings tend to take all of these reactions for granted, despite their essential place in our lives. We go about our busy days and never pause to contemplate the way in which these reactions enrich our existence and our world. We seldom - if ever - think about the way in which calcium reactions occur with water and other substances, or the power of the photochemical reactions that occur in the world. Most of us are not even familiar with the oddity of side reactions - those chemical reactions that sometimes occur in the production of a product of some kind, and which produce unintended and unwanted by-products.
We even take for granted the natural reactions that occur within our own bodies - reactions that are often responsible for keeping us healthy and even protecting us from otherwise fatal conditions. Take, for example, the immune reaction of the human body. Designed to counter harmful pathogens that invade our bodies, this reaction sends antibodies to fight the internal war for our bodies' health that often goes on unnoticed just beneath our skin. Food reactions, in the form of simple intolerance or even allergies, are usually the first sign most of us have that something on our diet is placing us in danger.
Biological reactions to stress - both physical and emotional - are the body's way of signaling its state of duress, and provide invaluable warning that the entire human entity is in need of assistance! Vaccination reactions, taking the form of a fever, swelling, or localized pain, alert an individual to another type of duress. Of course, not all reactions within the human body are meant as warning signs - some are just a natural part of the body's normal processes.
A good example of the type of reaction that naturally occurs within the human body as a normal course of action is the organic synthesis reaction in which bacteria in the intestines react with naturally occurring alcohols present in the body. All of our major bodily systems are dependent on various reactions to one extent or another - from digestion to respiration, the human body is a constant source of chemical reactions.
No matter where you look in nature, reactions are occurring all around you. Even in the most remote parts of the planet - and indeed the universe itself - chemical and other reactions are ever present. From metal, solution, and other physical reactions to the more complex psychological reactions that underpin the human condition, these reactions among chemicals and other substances are a part of our existence worthy of notice and study.
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