Chemical and Physical Change

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What are physical properties?

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Physical properties are measurable properties that can be seen and determined without changing the chemical properties of an object. Examples include color, hardness, area, length, strength, and temperature.

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What are chemical properties?

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Chemical properties are properties that can be measured only by chemically changing an object. For example, paper starts to burn at around 450°F, combining with oxygen to form new substances.

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What is a physical change?

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A physical change occurs when matter changes its physical properties but not its chemical properties. An example is salt dissolving in water; if the water evaporates, the salt remains.

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What is a chemical change?

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A chemical change happens when matter breaks down into two or more substances or when substances combine to form a new substance. Examples include hydrogen peroxide forming bubbles and vinegar with baking soda creating foam.

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What is a chemical reaction?

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A chemical reaction is a process where one or more substances change chemically into different substances. An example is iron combining with air to form rust.

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What is a mixture?

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A mixture contains two or more substances that are not chemically combined. An example is salted popcorn.

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How can you identify a mixture?

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A mixture can be identified if you can physically separate it into its original substances. For example, evaporating water from salt water leaves behind salt.

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What are the states of matter?

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States of matter are the different forms in which matter can exist: solid, liquid, and gas. Water can be a liquid, solid (ice), or gas (steam).

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What is matter?

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Matter is anything that has mass and exists in one of the states of matter.