Question

Is wood burning a physical or chemical change?

Answer 1

Physical change:

• In a physical change, the molecules of a substance are rearranged but the composition of the substance remains constant.
• Physical change is reversible which means that the original can be recovered.

Chemical changes:

• In a chemical change, the molecular composition of a substance is completely changed and it gives rise to a new substance.
• Chemical changes are irreversible which means that the original cannot be recovered.

Wood burning:

• When wood is set on fire, the Carbon present in the form of Methane or butane combusts in the presence of Oxygen to form water and Carbon dioxide.
• The burning of wood is a chemical change as it leads to the formation of new substances like Carbon dioxide gas, water vapour, ash, etc.
• There are some substances that do not undergo complete combustion or do not react at all, these substances form the fire ash.

Therefore, the wood-burning is a chemical change.