Physical/Chemical Changes

Which example best describes a physical change?

• baking a pie
• burning a candle
• making a paper airplane

A glass of water is placed outside during a hot day. After a few hours, someone notices that there is less water in the glass. Which best explains why this happened?

• water melted; gas formed
• water evaporated; gas formed
• water evaporated; liquid formed

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which best describes an activity that results in a new material being formed?

• plowing a field
• ironing a shirt
• burning wood

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which is the best example of a change that can be undone (or reversed)?

• clay put in an oven to harden
• cake batter put in an oven to bake
• chocolate left in a warm car to melt

A glass of salt water is put on a windowsill.  After several days the water has disappeared, and there is only a film of white crystals left in the bottom. Which best explains what has happened?

• The salt caused the water to dry up.
• The water evaporated and left the salt behind.
• The water and the salt evaporated and left a film behind.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Jennifer left her bike outside, buried in snow. In the spring, when the snow melted, she found her bike covered in rust. Which best describes the change to the bike?

• It was a chemical change, because the bike was a different color.
• It was a chemical change, because the rubber tires were deflated.
• It was a chemical change, because rust can be removed from the metal.
• It was a chemical change, because rust is a new substance on the metal. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which is an example of a change that will produce a new substance?

• A piece of wood is burned and turns to ash. 
• A glass jar breaks into smaller shards of glass.
• A puddle of water evaporates into water vapor.
• A piece of paper gets wet and is shredded apart. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Which best explains why melting ice is a physical change instead of a chemical change?

• It does not smell bad.
• It changes from a solid to a liquid.
• It does not form a new substance. 
• It changes quietly with no loud sound.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4