Physical/Chemical Changes

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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 melting, freezing, and dissolving.

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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 changes the composition of the original substance. Examples include burning, rusting, and cooking.

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What happens to the energy during a chemical change?

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During a chemical change, energy is either absorbed or released. For example, in exothermic reactions, heat is released, while in endothermic reactions, heat is absorbed.

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What is the difference between physical and chemical properties?

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Physical properties can be observed without changing the substance's chemical identity (e.g., color, shape, boiling point), while chemical properties can only be observed during a chemical reaction (e.g., flammability, reactivity).

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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 iron rusting. The iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide, a new substance.

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What are the three states of matter?

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The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Each state has distinct properties based on particle arrangement and energy.

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What defines a solid state of matter?

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A solid has a definite volume and a definite shape, with particles packed tightly together in fixed positions.

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What defines a liquid state of matter?

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A liquid has a definite volume but an indefinite shape, allowing it to take the shape of its container while maintaining its volume.

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What defines a gas state of matter?

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A gas has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape, with particles that are far apart and move freely.