Physical & Chemical Changes ESL

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What is a physical change?

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A physical change is a change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition. Examples include changes in size, shape, or state of matter.

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What is a chemical change?

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

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What happens to the substance in a physical change?

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In a physical change, the substance remains the same at the molecular level, even though its appearance may change.

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What happens to the substance in a chemical change?

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In a chemical change, the original substances are transformed into different substances with new properties.

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Can you give an example of a physical change?

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An example of a physical change is melting ice into water.

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Can you give an example of a chemical change?

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An example of a chemical change is vinegar reacting with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide.

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What is one characteristic of a physical change?

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One characteristic of a physical change is that it can often be reversed, such as freezing and melting water.

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What is one characteristic of a chemical change?

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One characteristic of a chemical change is that it usually cannot be reversed by simple physical means.

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What is a common misconception about physical changes?

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A common misconception is that physical changes create new substances, but they do not.

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What is a common misconception about chemical changes?

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A common misconception is that chemical changes are always dangerous, but many are safe and occur in everyday life.