Question

When ice melts it forms water. Ice and water have very different properties. Why then do we say that melting is a physical change?

Answer 1

A physical change is one which involves changes in the physical properties of a substance such as a state, shape, size, and colour, etc. No new substances are formed in a physical change. Also, the original substance can generally be recovered again in a physical change i.e. most physical changes are reversible, as the melting of ice only includes the change in physical properties like state, shape, etc. moreover no new chemical products is formed. Therefore, it is a physical process.