Physical and Chemical Changes in Matter

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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 state (like melting or freezing) and changes in shape or size.

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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. It involves a chemical reaction and includes changes such as burning, rusting, or digestion.

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What are physical properties?

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Physical properties are characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. Examples include color, odor, melting point, and density.

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What are chemical properties?

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Chemical properties describe a substance's ability to undergo changes that transform it into different substances. Examples include reactivity with acids, flammability, and oxidation states.

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What indicates a chemical change has occurred?

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Indicators of a chemical change include color change, formation of a precipitate, formation of gas/bubbles, and temperature change.

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What does the formation of a precipitate indicate?

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The formation of a precipitate indicates a chemical change, as it shows that a new substance has formed from the reaction of two or more substances.

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What is an example of a physical change?

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An example of a physical change is ice melting into water. The substance remains H2O, but its state changes from solid to liquid.

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What is an example of a chemical change?

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An example of a chemical change is the burning of wood. The wood reacts with oxygen to form ash, carbon dioxide, and water, creating new substances.

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What happens during photosynthesis?

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During photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using sunlight. This process is a chemical change.

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

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A physical change alters the form or appearance of a substance without changing its chemical composition, while a chemical change results in the formation of new substances.