ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chemical process

A chemical process is when different materials are mixed together and changed into something else. It's like when you mix ingredients to make a cake! But instead of flour, eggs, and sugar, chemists use different substances like chemicals and gases.

When these substances are mixed together, a reaction happens and they become something new. For example, if you mix sodium and chlorine, they will react and become a type of salt called sodium chloride.

Chemical processes happen in many different places, like in factories where they make plastic or in your body when you eat food. Sometimes chemical processes make things that are useful, like medicine or fuel. But other times, they can be dangerous, like when chemicals mix together and create harmful fumes. That's why scientists are always careful when they do chemical processes to make sure they are safe.