A chemical reaction involves a change in the composition of a substance. The document discusses 4 types of chemical reactions: 1) Precipitation reactions which involve the formation of an insoluble solid, like calcium carbonate. 2) Color change reactions which alter the color of a substance, like an apple turning brown when peeled. 3) Gas production reactions where a gas is formed, such as acetylene gas from carbide and water. 4) Temperature change reactions that result in a change in temperature, like a firecracker exploding and heating the glass walls.