What are the signs of a chemical change vs a physical change?
Category:
science
chemistry
A chemical change results from a chemical reaction, while a physical change is when matter changes forms but not chemical identity. Examples of chemical changes are burning, cooking, rusting, and rotting. Examples of physical changes are boiling, melting, freezing, and shredding.
Considering this, how would you determine whether a change in matter is physical or chemical?
The difference between a physical reaction and a chemical reaction is composition. In a chemical reaction, there is a change in the composition of the substances in question; in a physical change there is a difference in the appearance, smell, or simple display of a sample of matter without a change in composition.
Regarding this, what are the signs of a physical change?
Signs of a physical change include:
- Expected color change.
- Change in size or shape.
- Change in state of matter.
- Reversible.
- No new substance formed!
In a chemical change, a new substance is made, like when you burn a candle. In a physical change, no new substance is made, like when water turns to ice.