Question

What is a Physical change? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

Hint: We witness a large number of changes everyday. Everything around us undergoes certain changes. There are two types of changes in matter (refers to anything that has mass and occupies space); Physical change and Chemical change.

Complete answer:
We have seen that there are two types of changes in matter. We’ll discuss Physical changes.
A physical change is anything that affects one or more physical properties of a substance without changing its identity. Physical properties include colour, odour, taste, solubility, rigidity, melting and boiling points (mainly include its appearance and observable properties). Physical changes don’t change the identity of the substance. The composition and the chemical nature of matter is not changed in a physical change. In a physical change no new substance or product is formed.
Some examples of physical change are; Melting of ice is a physical change because only the phase changes from solid to liquid. No chemical changes took place. Also, the process is reversible.
Other examples include;
Dissolving sugar, chopping wood, shredding paper, boiling water etc

Additional Information:
A chemical change is the change of chemical composition of matter. New products are formed in a chemical change. Mostly the chemical changes are irreversible. It should be noted that chemical changes have a direct effect on the chemical bonds of molecules in a substance.

Note:
A physical change is the change of matter that occurs without changing the chemical composition of matter. These changes have no effect on the chemical bonds of molecules of a substance.