Understanding Changes in Matter

Which of the following is an example of a physical change?

• Burning wood

• Rusting iron

• Melting ice

• Digesting food

What is a characteristic of chemical changes?

• They are easily reversible

• They do not produce new substances

• They often involve a change in color or temperature

• They only affect the physical state of matter

Which process is an example of a chemical change?

• Condensation

• Evaporation

• Sublimation

• Photosynthesis

What occurs during nuclear fission?

• Atoms are combined to form heavier elements

• Atoms are split into smaller parts

• Matter changes its phase

• Electrons are rearranged

How does a nuclear change differ from a chemical change?

• Nuclear changes involve rearrangement of electrons

• Chemical changes result in new elements being formed

• Chemical changes produce more energy than nuclear changes

• Nuclear changes involve changes in the nucleus of atoms