Physical Changes

Front

Matter Noun

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[mat-er]

Back

Matter

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Anything that has mass and takes up space (volume), existing in states such as solid, liquid, or gas.

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Example: This diagram shows that matter exists in different states (solid, liquid, gas) and can change between them through physical processes like melting and boiling.

Front

Physical Change Noun

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[fiz-i-kuhl cheynj]

Back

Physical Change

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A change affecting a substance's form, such as shape, size, or state, but not its chemical composition.

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Example: This diagram shows that adding or removing energy can change the state of matter (solid, liquid, gas), which is a physical change because the particles themselves do not change.

Front

Chemical Change Noun

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[kem-i-kuhl cheynj]

Back

Chemical Change

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A change that results in the formation of a new chemical substance with a different identity and properties.

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Example: Reactant molecules (methane and oxygen) rearrange their atoms to form entirely new product molecules (carbon dioxide and water), demonstrating a chemical change.

Front

Composition Noun

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[kom-puh-zish-uhn]

Back

Composition

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The chemical makeup of a substance, referring to the specific types of atoms and their unique arrangement within it.

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Example: This diagram shows the composition of a glucose molecule, which is made of 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, and 6 oxygen atoms bonded together.

Front

Phase Change Noun

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[feyz cheynj]

Back

Phase Change

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A transition of matter from one state to another, such as solid to liquid, which is a physical change.

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Example: This diagram shows the three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and the names of the physical transitions between them, such as melting and freezing.

Front

Physical Property Noun

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[fiz-i-kuhl prop-er-tee]

Back

Physical Property

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A characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity.

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Example: This image shows gold bars, which have physical properties you can observe without changing the gold, such as its yellow color and shiny luster.

Front

Melting Noun

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[mel-ting]

Back

Melting

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The physical process by which a substance transitions from a solid state to a liquid state due to heat.

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Example: This image shows a solid cube of a substance, like ice, turning into a liquid puddle, which is the process of melting.

Front

Freezing Noun

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[free-zing]

Back

Freezing

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The physical process by which a substance transitions from a liquid state to a solid state by cooling.

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Example: This diagram shows freezing, the physical process where a substance in a liquid state turns into a solid state when heat is removed.

Front

Evaporation Noun

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[ih-vap-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Evaporation

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The physical process by which a substance in a liquid state changes to a gaseous state, typically from the surface.

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Example: Heat from the sun causes liquid water from the ocean to change into a gas (water vapor) and rise into the atmosphere.

Front

Dissolving Noun

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[dih-zol-ving]

Back

Dissolving

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A physical process where a substance mixes evenly into a liquid to form a solution without changing chemically.

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Example: This diagram shows the process of dissolving, where a solute (sugar) mixes into a solvent (water) to form a uniform mixture called a solution.