Evaporating ocean water leaves a mixture of salts. Is this a chemical change? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, the evaporation of ocean water leaving a mixture of salts is not a chemical change. It is a physical change because the water and the salt retain their chemical identities throughout the process.

Step by step solution

01

Define Chemical Change

Initially, define what constitutes a chemical change. A chemical change, also known as a chemical reaction, involves a process that transforms one or more substances into new substances. These changes are commonly associated with changes in the chemical identity of the substances involved.
02

Evaluate the Given Scenario

Next, examine the process in question, which is the evaporation of ocean water leaving behind a mixture of salts. When water evaporates, it changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state. The salt, which was dissolved in the water, is left behind. Both the water and the salt retain their chemical identities throughout this process, even though the physical state of the water changes.
03

Conclude Based on Understanding

Finally, it can be concluded that the evaporation of ocean water leaving a mixture of salts is not a chemical change. This is because neither the water nor the salt undergo a transformation into new substances. They remain chemically the same before and after the evaporation process, despite the physical change of state in the water.

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