Chemical and Physical Changes

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What is a chemical change?

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A chemical change is a process where substances combine or break apart to form new substances with different properties. Examples include rusting of iron and digestion of food.

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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 melting ice and boiling water.

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What happens during rusting?

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Rusting is a chemical change that occurs when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air, forming iron oxide (rust).

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What is flammability?

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Flammability is a chemical property that describes how easily a substance can catch fire and burn.

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What is malleability?

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Malleability is a physical property that describes a material's ability to be deformed or shaped under compressive stress, such as being hammered into thin sheets.

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What is the difference between a physical property and a chemical property?

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A physical property can be observed without changing the substance's chemical identity (e.g., color, melting point), while a chemical property describes a substance's ability to undergo a chemical change (e.g., reactivity, flammability).

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What is an example of a physical change?

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

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What is an example of a chemical change?

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An example of a chemical change is the digestion of food in the stomach.

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What is the significance of observing a change in state of matter?

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A change in the state of matter (e.g., solid to liquid) is a physical change that does not alter the chemical composition of the substance.

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What is the role of heat in chemical changes?

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Heat can provide the energy needed to initiate a chemical change, such as combustion or the reaction of baking soda and vinegar.