Chemical reactions happen all the time, Daphne said. Without chemical reactions, life
on Earth could not exist.
Look at plants and trees, Velma continued. Photosynthesis is a kind of chemical
reaction.
Green plants absorb sunlight, explained Fred. The light energy changes carbon dioxide
and water inside the plant into sugar and oxygen.
The sugar feeds the plant, and the plant releases the oxygen into the air, Daphne added.
I wonder what chemical reactions we can use to make a hotdog? asked Shaggy.
Rum! said Scooby.
A campfire is another type of
chemical reaction. Fire provides the
activation energy. Oxygen and wood
are the reactants. They turn into ash
and smoke, which, along with carbon
dioxide and water vapor, are the
products of the reaction.
FACT FILE
A boy in class tapped Velmas arm. Hey, Velma?
Hi, Brian, said Velma. Whats up?
Would you like to go to the dance with me on Saturday? Brian asked.
Im working on my science project this weekend, answered Velma.
The science fair is only two weeks away. But thank you for asking.
Lunch is my favorite class of the day, said Shaggy. All that talk about chemical
reactions made me hungry!
Actually, Daphne said, there are chemical reactions going on inside you right now.
There are? Shaggy asked through a mouthful of food.
Fred nodded. Chemical reactions in your digestive system break down your food.
Without chemical reactions, youd starve.
Rarve? Scooby exclaimed.
Enzymes in your stomach and intestines act like catalysts. Catalysts speed up the
chemical reactions, which turn food into nutrients for your body, Velma added.
Zoinks! exclaimed Shaggy. Is that a g- g- g- ghost?
The dance is cursed! moaned the ghost in an eerie voice. Stay away, or dance
to your doom! Then the ghost ripped down the dance banner and disappeared
down the hall.
Come on, gang! shouted Fred. Lets follow that phantom!
The gang stood up to follow Fred. Just then Shaggy noticed
something on the floor and picked it up. What a goofy looking
cup, he said.
Thats not a cup, said Velma. Its a beaker from the
science lab.
And possibly our first clue, Fred added.
Lets head to the lab, gang.
Someone, or something, has broken all the lab equipment, Daphne observed.
Rhost! shouted Scooby.
Shaggy pointed to a strange silhouette. Its the ghost! he exclaimed. It must
be flunking science class.
Like, whew, said Shaggy. Its only Professor Curie.
What happened, Professor? Fred asked.
Someone vandalized my classroom, she answered. What a mess.
Scooby found something, said Velma. It appears to be table salt. How strange.
Shaggy said, Salt would taste great on a plate of French fries right now!
Whoever broke into my class spilled that salt, said Professor Curie. A few bottles
of hydrogen peroxide have also gone missing.
Lets follow those footprints, Daphne said. They might be our next clue.
Sodium and chlorine gas are
poisonous. But when they
combine, they make ordinary
table salt.
FACT FILE
The footprints lead into the home economics room, Fred said. But whoever was
here is long gone.
Shaggy and Scooby sniffed the air. Mmmm, cake and bread! Dont try to tell me
chemical reactions made these too, joked Shaggy.
Actually, they did! said Fred. All sorts of chemical reactions happen when you
bake something.
Yeast and sugar are often used to make bread, Velma said. They are the
reactants. The yeast eats the sugar and releases the products carbon dioxide
and ethanol. Carbon dioxide bubbles make the bread rise.
What time should we head to the dance on Saturday? asked Velma.
I thought you were working on your science project, Daphne said.
Change of plans, answered Velma. Weve got to catch that ghost
at the dance.
A phantom doing the foxtrot? gulped Shaggy. I think Ill leave my
dancing shoes at home.
We go where the mystery takes us, Shaggy, said Fred.