Physical vs. Chemical Changes

Front

What is a physical change?

Back

A change that does not alter the chemical composition of a substance. Examples include melting, freezing, and dissolving.

Front

What is a chemical change?

Back

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

Front

What is an example of a physical change?

Back

Ice forming and then melting back into water.

Front

What is an example of a chemical change?

Back

Baking a cake.

Front

What is a physical property?

Back

A characteristic that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's identity, such as color, mass, and volume.

Front

What is a chemical property?

Back

A characteristic that can only be observed during a chemical reaction, such as flammability and reactivity.

Front

What happens during a physical change?

Back

The form of a substance changes, but its chemical identity remains the same.

Front

What happens during a chemical change?

Back

The original substances are transformed into one or more new substances with different properties.

Front

Is dissolving sugar in water a physical or chemical change?

Back

Physical change, because the sugar can be recovered by evaporating the water.

Front

Is rusting of iron a physical or chemical change?

Back

Chemical change, because it forms a new substance (rust) that has different properties.