Physical Change and Chemical Change

Table of Contents

What is a Physical Change?

Properties such as shape, size, state of the substance and its colour are known as physical properties. Physical properties are affected by the physical change.

Physical Change

For Example, when ice changes to water, there is a change in the physical state of ice, i.e. it changes from solid to liquid. If we cool the water again, ice will be formed making it a reversible reaction. Also, no new substance is formed in the above physical change.

physical change

What is a Chemical Change?

A change in which one or more new substances are formed is known as chemical change.

Chemical change

For Example, when the iron is exposed to air and moisture, rust formation takes place. Rust is nothing but Iron Oxide; a new substance formed out of the reaction. The colour of the surface of the iron also changes. Hence, rusting of iron is a chemical change.

Physical Change

Rusting of Iron

When substances made of iron are exposed to oxygen and moisture (water), rusting takes place. Rusting removes a layer of material from the surface and makes the substance weak. Rusting is a chemical change.

Chemical reaction taking place during rusting is shown below.

Rusting Reaction

Rusting is undesirable and methods are used to avoid rusting.

Rusting

The process of depositing zinc on the iron to prevent rusting is known as galvanization. A striking example of the use of galvanization is the water pipes used in houses.

Crystallization

A physical process of obtaining large crystals of a pure substance from its solution is known as crystallization. Crystallization is a physical change.

Crystallization


Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

What are physical and chemical changes?

A chemical transition is the result of a chemical reaction, and a physical change occurs where the structure of matter changes but not the chemical identity. Examples of chemical transformations include fire, frying, rusting, and rotting. Examples of physical changes are to simmer and freeze.

Q2

What defines a chemical change?

Chemical reactions requiring the rearrangement of atoms of one or more compounds and the modification of their chemical properties or structure resulting in the creation of at least one new substance: iron rust is a chemical alteration.

Q3

Is Melting zinc a chemical change?

A chemical reaction is a mechanism that happens by converting one or more compounds into one or more other compounds. No chemical reaction is registered. However, if the mixture absorbs energy in the form of heat, the zinc may react chemically with the sulphur to form the compound zinc sulphide (ZnS).

Q4

Which process is a chemical change?

Material modifications arise as a substance becomes a new material, called chemical synthesis or, similarly, chemical decomposition into two or three distinct compounds, combined with another. These mechanisms are called chemical reactions, and they are usually not reversible or by additional chemical reactions.

Q5

What is the importance of chemical change?

Chemical processes allow one to understand matter’s properties. We can learn its chemical properties by observing the way a sample interacts with another matter. These properties may be used to classify an unknown specimen or to predict how different kinds of matter may react with each other.

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  1. Very Helpful. Thank You