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Chapter 2: Problem 9

What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A physical change alters the form of a substance but does not make a new substance, while a chemical change creates a new substance. Physical changes are often reversible and do not involve changes at the molecular level, while chemical changes are typically irreversible and involve changes at the molecular level.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Physical Change

A physical change is a type of change in which the form of matter is altered but one substance is not transformed into another. The size, shape, and state (solid, liquid, gas) of matter can change in physical changes. Examples include tearing paper, melting ice, dissolving sugar in water etc.
02

Understanding Chemical Change

A chemical change is a type of change that results in the formation of new chemical substances. These changes are often irreversible and involve the making or breaking of bonds between atoms. These changes often involve energy changes observed as heat, light, sound etc. Examples are rusting of iron, burning of wood, digestion of food etc.
03

Differences between Physical and Chemical Changes

The key difference between physical and chemical changes lies in the changes of the substances involved. In a physical change, the substance retains its original properties and can be reversed in most cases. However, in a chemical change, a new substance is formed with different properties and the change is usually irreversible.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How many significant figures are there in each of the following measurements? $$\begin{array}{ll}{\text { a. } 0.4004 \mathrm{mL}} & {\text { c } 1.00030 \mathrm{km}} \\ {\text { b. } 6000 \mathrm{g}} & {\text { d. } 400 \mathrm{mm}}\end{array}$$

Determine the specific heat of a material if a 35 g sample of the material absorbs 48 \(\mathrm{J}\) as it is heated from 298 \(\mathrm{K}\) to 313 \(\mathrm{K}\) .

State the law of conservation of energy.

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The following numbers are written in scientific notation. Write them in ordinary notation. a. \(7.050 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{g}\) b. \(4.00005 \times 10^{7} \mathrm{mg}\)
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