Physical vs. Chemical Changes

Front

What is a physical change?

Back

A physical change is a change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition. Examples include melting, freezing, and dissolving.

Front

What is a chemical change?

Back

A chemical change is a change that results in the formation of new chemical substances. Examples include burning, rusting, and cooking.

Front

What is a physical property?

Back

A physical property is a characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing its identity. Examples include color, shape, size, and mass.

Front

What is a chemical property?

Back

A chemical property is a characteristic that can only be observed during a chemical reaction. Examples include flammability and reactivity.

Front

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations?

Back

Qualitative observations describe characteristics or qualities (e.g., color, taste), while quantitative observations involve measurements and numbers (e.g., height, weight).

Front

Is melting ice a physical or chemical change?

Back

Melting ice is a physical change because it changes from solid to liquid without altering its chemical composition.

Front

What are some signs of a chemical change?

Back

Signs of a chemical change include color change, temperature change, gas production (bubbles), and the formation of a precipitate.

Front

What happens to the molecules during a physical change?

Back

During a physical change, the arrangement of molecules may change, but the molecules themselves remain the same.

Front

What happens to the molecules during a chemical change?

Back

During a chemical change, the bonds between molecules break and new bonds form, resulting in the creation of new substances.

Front

Give an example of a physical change.

Back

An example of a physical change is water boiling to form steam.