A method for detecting chemical reactions uses a nanocalorimeter having a substrate including thermal isolation capability residing on the substrate, thermal equilibration regions residing within the thermal isolation capability, and thermal measurement capability residing within each of the thermal equilibration regions. The thermal measurement device is connected to detection electronics. The method includes depositing drops of potentially reactive chemical solutions within the thermal equilibration region. These potentially reactive solution drops are merged through the use of drop merging electrodes residing within the thermal isolation region. The thermal change occurring within the merged solution drops is then measured with the detection electronics.