Mechanochemistry

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mechanochemistry

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is mechanochemistry?Mechanochemistry is a way to make chemical reactions happen by squishing, grinding, or hitting things. Instead of using heat, light, or electricity, it uses mechanical force to change bonds inside molecules.
2. How does pushing or grinding cause chemical changes?When we apply force, tiny bonds inside molecules can break or rearrange. This creates new reactions that we usually can't get by just heating or lighting.

Covalent Bonds: Chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms, central to molecular structure.
Mechanophore: A molecular unit designed to undergo a specific, predictable response to mechanical force.
Mechanochromic: A property of a substance that exhibits a color change in response to applied mechanical stress.