What type of reaction involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds?

The type of reaction that involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds is a chemical reaction. In a chemical reaction, the atoms in the reactants rearrange to form new substances in the products. This process requires energy to break the existing bonds and often involves changes in energy, such as the release or absorption of heat. The formation of new bonds releases energy, contributing to the overall energy change of the reaction.

In contrast, a physical change refers to alterations that do not affect the chemical composition of a substance, such as changes in state or appearance. A phase transition specifically addresses changes between solid, liquid, and gas states, which again involve no alteration of chemical bonds. An electrochemical reaction is a specific type of chemical reaction that involves the transfer of electrons and typically occurs in an electrochemical cell, but it still falls under the broader category of chemical reactions. Thus, the most encompassing term for the breaking and forming of bonds in a reaction context is a chemical reaction.