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 changing 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 one or more new substances with different properties. Examples include burning, rusting, and baking.

Front

What happens to the substances in a physical change?

Back

In a physical change, the substances retain their original properties and can often be separated back into their original forms.

Front

What happens to the substances in a chemical change?

Back

In a chemical change, the original substances are transformed into new substances with different properties, and they cannot be easily separated back into their original forms.

Front

Give an example of a physical change.

Back

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

Front

Give an example of a chemical change.

Back

An example of a chemical change is burning wood, which produces ash and smoke.

Front

What is a mixture?

Back

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances where each substance retains its own properties and can be separated by physical means.

Front

What is a new substance?

Back

A new substance is a material that is formed as a result of a chemical change, having different properties from the original substances.

Front

Is dissolving sugar in water a physical or chemical change?

Back

Dissolving sugar in water is a physical change because the sugar can be recovered by evaporating the water.

Front

Is rusting of iron a physical or chemical change?

Back

Rusting of iron is a chemical change because it forms a new substance, iron oxide.